MAZON Blog

Following reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently ordered state agencies and private contractors to turn over detailed personal information from recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger filed a lawsuit in federal court.

The lawsuit challenges the agency’s demand for the personal information — including social security numbers, employment history, home addresses, and potentially even citizenship status — of millions of Americans who receive food assistance.

In response to the lawsuit on June 3, USDA has paused its demand for the personal data of millions of SNAP recipients, while the litigation proceeds. In a sworn declaration, USDA said that the agency had not collected any of the SNAP recipient data in question and would not proceed with its plan to do so without following laws intended to protect privacy and data security.

“From day one, we have been alarmed by the reckless and unsupportable actions of this Administration, particularly those initiated by the so-called ‘Department of Government Efficiency.’ This effort by USDA to exploit and surveil those struggling with food insecurity is simply beyond the pale in terms of its legality, not to mention morality,” said Abby J. Leibman, MAZON’s President & CEO. 

The lawsuit cites violations of multiple laws, including the Privacy Act, which requires federal agencies to notify individuals when collecting personal data and to implement protections on personal data. 

USDA has not provided a clear explanation for how this data will be used. In a letter sent May 6, the agency also warned that states refusing to comply could lose federal funding needed to operate their food programs.

MAZON, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), and several individual plaintiffs are being represented by Protect Democracy, Student Defense, and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. 

“When SNAP recipients give their private information to the government so that they can put food on the table, they do so under a promise that it will only be used for receiving critical food assistance benefits, not shared with those who have no right – let alone a need – to know. They do so with the understanding that their information will be kept private and safe,” Leibman said. “To discover that Brooke Rollins and the Department of Agriculture broke that promise is truly outrageous, and we are firmly committed to doing everything in our power to stop this appalling action. Hungry Americans deserve better than to have their basic needs weaponized against them.”

USDA’s unlawful request is part of a larger effort to frighten individuals and families off of basic needs programs for which they qualify. USDA’s actions will compound the chilling effect that MAZON is already seeing have an outsize effect on vulnerable populations. 

“This urgent litigation seeks to ensure that the government is not exploiting our most vulnerable citizens by disregarding long standing privacy protections, depriving the public

of critical information regarding data collection and protections, and eviscerating the public’s right to comment on the mass collection and consolidation by the federal government of sensitive, personal data of tens of millions of individuals who rely on federal food assistance benefits.” the complaint reads. 

This lawsuit is part of MAZON’s ongoing legal advocacy to defend the rights of those who rely on food assistance programs.

In 2021, just before leaving office, the Trump administration issued regulations that weakened Constitutional protections for people in need seeking government-funded services through religious organizations. MAZON served as lead plaintiff in litigation to challenge those rules.

That case was stayed in an agreement with the Biden Administration and later dropped when nine federal agencies replaced the regulations with new ones that restored stronger protections for religious freedom.

Those wishing to learn more about our legal advocacy efforts, visit here. 

You can support MAZON with a donation or take action to join us in ensuring that millions of people will not go hungry.