DEVELOPING: At Least 27 States Expose Sensitive Data on Food Stamp Recipients to USDA

BREAKING NEWS: At Least 27 States Expose Sensitive Data on Food Stamp Recipients to USDA At least 27 states have shared sensitive data about millions of people who receive federally-funded food assistance, including their names, dates of birth, home addresses, and Social Security numbers. The data was turned over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to a demand from the Trump administration. The affected individuals include close to 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Each month, millions of people receive benefits through SNAP, which is administered by the USDA. Most states with Republican governors have complied with the data request, while Democratic-led states have largely refused. The Trump administration has framed the data demand as necessary to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. This move has raised concerns about the potential misuse of sensitive information and the impact on vulnerable populations who rely on SNAP for food assistance. The current status of the situation is unclear, but it is expected that more states will be required to turn over similar data in the coming weeks. This is a developing story, and NPR will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*