BY: MORGAN CHILSON
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — The Trump administration has paused its demand for the personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients after a lawsuit was filed May 22 by national advocacy organizations.
Kansas Department for Children and Families officials received a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in early May demanding personal information about SNAP recipients in the state. DCF refused to send the data, stating, “At this time, we are unsure as to the reason for the USDA’s request.”
A motion for a temporary restraining order was filed May 27 by counsel for the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, the National Student Legal Defense Network, Protect Democracy Project, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. The same group also filed the lawsuit challenging USDA’s access to the protected information, a news release said.
In a sworn declaration, USDA official Shiela Corley said the agency has not collected SNAP recipient data after telling the third-party vendors that maintain the data to hold off on submitting it, the news release said.
“USDA has instructed EBT Processors to refrain from sending any data until USDA completed procedural steps to ensure that data received would be appropriately safeguarded and to satisfy all necessary legal requirements,” her testimony said. “In accordance with USDA’s instruction, EBT Processors have not sent any data to USDA in response to the May 6 letter. Before any of the data described in the May 6 Letter is provided to USDA, USDA intends to publish a new SORN (System of Records Notice) in compliance with the Privacy Act.”
Although Corley’s declaration caused the advocacy organizations to drop the motion for the restraining order, the lawsuit will continue, the press release said.
“This is a victory for tens of millions of SNAP recipients and anyone who cares about protecting our personal data against government abuse,” John Davisson, an EPIC official, said in the release. “Although this fight is just beginning, we’re grateful that the USDA acknowledged its legal obligation to safeguard privacy and remain accountable to the public.”
Abby J. Leibman, president and CEO of MAZON, said in the news release that the USDA must consider how its actions affect those facing hunger in the United States.
“The laws and processes protecting privacy exist for vital reasons. Americans are clear that everyone has a high expectation of privacy regarding their personal information — and SNAP applicants do not cede that expectation in exchange for receiving vital support to meet their basic needs,” she said.