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New York is among 20 states suing the Trump administration over the request, which advocates say will have a “chilling effect” on SNAP participation among eligible people in need. The mayor’s office said it’s reviewing its options, and said the mandate “will only worsen food insecurity in our city.”
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New York officials and anti-hunger advocates condemned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) request for states to share the personal information of food stamp recipients, and City Hall said it’s reviewing its options around the mandate, the deadline for which passed earlier this week.
In May, the USDA asked states to hand over data—such as names, dates of birth, personal addresses, and Social Security numbers—for all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients over the last five years by 30 July, or else risk losing federal funding.
Citing President Donald Trump’s March Executive Order, the USDA said the data will help it combat waste, fraud, and abuse.
SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps, can be used to buy food and groceries at authorized retail stores. About 2.9 million low-income New Yorkers are currently enrolled in the program, or about 14 percent of the state’s population. Nearly a third are children.
On July 23, USDA broadened the scope of requested information to include immigration status and information about household members. Although immigrants without legal status are ineligible for the program, mixed-status families may include children who are U.S. citizens and therefore qualify for the benefits.
Earlier this week, 20 state attorneys general—including New York’s—joined together to challenge the Trump administration’s demand in a lawsuit.
But according to the New York Attorney General’s Office, Wednesday’s deadline remained in place despite the legal action, so states and social service districts may still respond.
While SNAP is funded by the federal government, in New York, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is in charge of managing and distributing the benefits at the state level. In New York City, the Human Resource Administration (HRA), which is part of the New York City Department of Social Services, oversees the program locally.
City Hall did not respond to questions about whether it would comply with the rule, but condemned it. “We’re reviewing our options,” a City Hall spokesman said.
“Requiring states to provide private and sensitive information on SNAP applications to the federal government is unlawful and will discourage New Yorkers from applying for these essential services, and withdrawing federal funding for not complying with this mandate will only worsen food insecurity in our city,” the spokesperson added. “We urge the federal government to reverse this decision.”
At the state level, OTDA also did not provide details on how it would respond, stating that “OTDA does not comment on pending litigation,” an agency spokesperson said via email. A USDA spokesperson also declined to comment, citing the ongoing lawsuit.
On July 23, OTDA’s Commissioner Barbara Guinn submitted a comment formally requesting that the USDA withdraw the proposed notice, alleging legal, operational, and ethical concerns with the creation and use of the USDA’s proposed National SNAP Information Database.
“Disclosure to such persons in violation of the privacy safeguards is inappropriate and unauthorized and does not serve any purpose related to the effective administration of the SNAP program,” Guinn wrote.
Food insecurity in New York grew to 4.7 percent of households from 2021 to 2023, while SNAP reliance has steadily increased after the pandemic, reaching 1.75 million households across the state in March 2025.
Children account for 30 percent of New York’s SNAP enrollees; elderly individuals make up 21 percent and non-elderly disabled residents comprise 10 percent.
“We are deeply concerned about the data request, including its potential chilling effect on SNAP participation,” said Krista Hesdorfer, director of public affairs at Hunger Solutions New York, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating hunger, which also assists eligible New Yorkers in accessing SNAP.
Advocates told City Limits that this request adds to the fear and chaos already being felt among immigrant communities as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts, including arrests of people showing up for mandated immigration court hearings, many of whom have no criminal history.
The policy will only lead to more reluctance to enroll in the SNAP program, even if people are eligible, advocates said.
“If you can find me one undocumented immigrant who somehow faked the paperwork to get SNAP, I can find you 10,000 out of thousands of documented, legal immigrants who are not applying for SNAP,” said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America.
USDA argues the information-sharing request is meant to get rid of “data silos” to stop waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds.
The Trump administration has been working on several paths to gather as much immigration-related information on people as possible, including creating a data-sharing system between ICE and the IRS, using Medicaid databases, and signing agreements between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Homeland Security.
“People are more afraid than ever to apply for the benefits to which they’re legally eligible,” Berg said. “People are even afraid to go to charitable soup kitchens and food pantries. There’s some people who are afraid to shop. They’re getting friends to shop for them. They’re literally putting themselves under essentially self-house arrest.”
While the USDA data request doesn’t mention immigration enforcement, hunger relief and immigrant advocates said the main goal is to help authorities find people who could be deported.
“As one of six children raised by a single mother who worked three jobs to put food on the table, Mayor Adams understands the importance of ensuring that families never have to go hungry,” a City Hall spokesman said.
“SNAP helps thousands of New Yorkers put food on their tables, and we are dedicated to ensuring everyone who needs these benefits can feel comfortable accessing them, regardless of their immigration status.”
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