{"id":424136,"date":"2025-12-04T13:16:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T13:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/424136\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T13:16:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T13:16:23","slug":"snap-operational-funding-at-risk-in-arizona-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/424136\/","title":{"rendered":"SNAP operational funding at risk in Arizona; here’s why"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2013 The Trump administration is threatening to withhold funding for operating SNAP from Arizona and other Democratic-led states that won\u2019t share personal information about the food aid program\u2019s recipients with the federal government.<\/p>\n

While SNAP benefits are federally funded, the cost of administering the program is shared by the federal government and states. It\u2019s not clear how much it would cost Arizona and other states to keep distributions flowing without federal support.<\/p>\n

States were given until Dec. 8 to respond to a letter sent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week urging compliance with its data-sharing order.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have sent Democrat states yet another request for data, and if they fail to comply, they will be provided with formal warning that USDA will pull their administrative funds,\u201d the USDA said in a statement Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Arizona is part of a lawsuit to protect SNAP recipients\u2019 personal data<\/p>\n

After the USDA initially asked for the recipient information in May, Arizona joined a multistate lawsuit<\/a> opposing the request in July. On Oct. 15, a judge granted a preliminary injunction<\/a> sought by the plaintiffs.<\/p>\n

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes\u2019 office declined a request for comment about the latest threat to SNAP administrative funds, but Mayes addressed the issue after the lawsuit was filed on July 28<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trump administration wants to use personal data as a weapon \u2014 not to fight fraud, but to intimidate vulnerable families and discourage them from seeking basic help,\u201d she said in a press release at the time. \u201cArizona won\u2019t be complicit in violating privacy laws or betraying the trust of Arizonans trying to feed their families.\u201d<\/p>\n

The USDA said it asked for the names, dates of birth, addresses and Social Security numbers of every SNAP recipient to comply with a March 20 executive order<\/a> from President Donald Trump called \u201cStopping Waste, Fraud and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday<\/a> the states\u2019 cooperation is needed to root out fraud in the $100 billion-a-year program, which helps 42 million lower-income Americans afford groceries.<\/p>\n

According to Rollins, information provided by the compliant states showed 186,000 dead people receiving SNAP benefits and 500,000 recipients getting benefits more than once.<\/p>\n

SNAP at center of another controversy<\/p>\n

The SNAP program is back in the news after becoming a major issue during the recent government shutdown. The Trump administration withheld benefits in November, but not without facing legal challenges that became moot when the government reopened.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said the state has safeguards to prevent SNAP fraud without federal intervention and accused the Trump administration of \u201cusing vulnerable families to advance their political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis latest threat from Secretary Rollins is a dangerous attack on Arizonans. The Trump administration is yet again weaponizing food assistance for political gain. Instead of focusing on political games, the administration should prioritize making sure people don\u2019t go hungry,\u201d Press Secretary Liliana Soto said in a statement to KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

KTAR News 92.3 FM\u2019s Balin Overstolz McNair and The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

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