USDA Demands Food Stamp Recipient Data: Privacy Concerns Explode
The USDA, at the behest of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is demanding states provide extensive personal data on SNAP recipients, including Social Security numbers and addresses. This unprecedented request, stemming from a March executive order, prioritizes data collection over traditional fraud detection methods, raising privacy concerns and the potential for misuse in immigration enforcement. Critics argue this violates the Privacy Act and could lead to deportation and mass surveillance, while the USDA maintains the data will comply with all relevant laws and regulations. The request comes amid proposed SNAP cuts and a history of using such data to make misleading claims about immigration and fraud.
John Q. Hosedrinker