A federal court has issued a second order preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from requiring states to provide personal data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants and recipients without sufficient safeguards. The decision, made by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, found that federal authorities cannot collect sensitive information from state agencies unless there is an agreed-upon protocol to protect the data.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul emphasized the significance of this ruling. “The administration continues to make baseless claims about fighting fraud while at the same time stating this data will be used for another purpose entirely: to further their cruel and draconian immigration policies,” Raoul said. “Illinoisans who signed up for these benefits expected that their personal information would be protected, and I will continue to fight to do just that.”
In July 2025, Raoul joined other attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that its request for SNAP applicant and recipient data violated federal law. The court initially granted a preliminary injunction after determining that statements from the administration indicated plans to use the data for reasons unrelated to managing federal benefit programs.
The dispute escalated when the USDA threatened to withhold administrative funding from states not complying with its new data-sharing protocol. On Thursday, the district court ruled that states were justified in rejecting this protocol because it would have permitted sharing of personal information with entities outside of benefit program administration, including the Department of Homeland Security.
Raoul noted concerns about broader efforts by federal officials since President Trump returned to office in 2025, citing public reports of large-scale databases being assembled using Americans’ personal information for undisclosed purposes such as immigration enforcement.
Other attorneys general joining Illinois in this legal challenge represent Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin as well as Kentucky.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office has consistently advocated for vulnerable groups such as workers and immigrants throughout Illinois (official website). The office also handles thousands of consumer complaints each year and aims to protect consumers while promoting safer communities and advocating on environmental and rights issues (official website). Its work includes partnerships with law enforcement agencies across Illinois to support crime victims and promote open government (official website), as well as offering services like complaint filing related to consumer fraud or civil rights (official website).
