Trump Administration Cannot Force States to Provide Food Stamp Data: Judge

The Trump administration cannot force states to provide data on people who applied for and received food stamps through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal judge ruled on Feb. 26. Demands by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in recent months for records that would enable officials to identify food stamp applicants and recipients, including their names and Social Security numbers, are likely contrary to the law that created and governs SNAP, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney in California said in a 22-page decision. USDA officials have cited the law, which says each state agency shall make records it has retained to ensure the program is carried out in a legal manner available for inspection and audit by USDA, “subject to data and security protocols.”...