The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is under fire for pressuring states and their private contractors to hand over sensitive personal data of millions of low-income Americans who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The move, which critics call a dangerous overreach, is raising alarm among privacy advocates, legal scholars, and state officials who fear it may sidestep legal safeguards and open the door to unprecedented surveillance.
A Sudden Demand That Raised Eyebrows
The USDA’s request came in the form of a letter sent to all states last week. It demanded access to personal details about SNAP recipients going back to January 2020—including names, birthdates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The agency plans to collect this information not directly from the states, but via third-party payment processors that manage electronic benefit transfers (EBT) for SNAP.
According to the USDA, the goal is to verify eligibility and prevent fraud. The letter cited a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March 2025, titled “Stopping Waste, Fraud and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos.” The order seeks to break down data-sharing barriers between state and federal agencies by requiring full access to state-run programs that receive federal funds—even when that data is held by outside vendors.
Privacy Advocates Sound the Alarm
Civil liberties experts, however, argue the USDA’s move crosses a legal and ethical line. Nicole Schneidman, a policy strategist and attorney with Protect Democracy, warned that if private companies start handing over state data under federal pressure, it could set a precedent with far-reaching consequences.
“This is a slippery slope,” Schneidman said. “It allows the federal government to sidestep state protections and gain access to personal data using corporate middlemen—without the usual legal process.”
Payment Processor FIS Signals Willingness to Comply
One major company has already indicated it may cooperate. Fidelity Information Services (FIS), which handles EBT payments for many states, told state officials in an internal email that it intends to comply with the USDA’s data request—pending state approval. The email stated FIS considers itself obligated to share the data as a contractor and asked states to confirm written consent by May 14.
FIS has not publicly detailed what data it collects or how it would be shared, and declined to answer media inquiries. But the company’s willingness to hand over information has sparked renewed concerns about how much power third-party vendors hold over sensitive state-managed data.
Legal Groups Push Back
In response, a coalition of legal and privacy watchdogs—including Protect Democracy, the Center for Democracy & Technology, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center—sent letters to FIS and other major SNAP processors, Conduent and Solutran, arguing that the USDA’s request violates several federal laws, including the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
The letters warned that unless there’s a valid legal basis for sharing the data, companies could face state-level legal liability for disclosing personally identifiable information. These groups also alerted state attorneys general, urging them to take a firm stand in defense of their residents’ data privacy.
Mixed Reactions from Contractors and States
While Conduent acknowledged the USDA’s request and emphasized its responsibility to protect client data, the company has not confirmed whether it will comply. Solutran has remained silent on the matter.
Some state agencies have begun expressing unease. The Illinois Department of Human Services said it is reviewing the USDA’s request carefully, noting concern about violating federal rules that limit how SNAP data can be shared.
“We are evaluating all legal options to safeguard individuals’ privacy,” said agency spokesperson Summer Griffith.
The USDA’s letter included a veiled warning, stating that failure to authorize contractors to provide the data could result in states being found noncompliant with federal requirements.
A Bigger Pattern of Data Collection?
The SNAP data request appears to be part of a broader trend within the federal government to collect and centralize personal data under the banner of efficiency and fraud prevention. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a relatively new agency, has been quietly building a vast inter-agency data-sharing network. That network is already facing more than a dozen legal challenges.
Just this week, a federal judge declined to block the IRS from sharing tax records of immigrants with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation purposes—adding fuel to the growing privacy debate.
NPR also uncovered internal emails showing that, even before the USDA’s letter, its Inspector General had reached out to several large states for additional data about SNAP recipients, including information like citizenship status.
In a statement, the USDA defended its actions, claiming all data sharing would remain compliant with privacy laws and best practices. But many remain unconvinced.
Critics worry this is only the beginning of a sweeping shift in how federal agencies interact with state-managed data—raising questions about the limits of government oversight and the role of private companies in protecting the rights of millions of Americans.
