Ellison sues over demands that states provide personal data of SNAP recipients

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s demand that states turn over personal information about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.

Ellison is among a coalition of 22 attorneys general who say that the demand violates multiple federal privacy laws and the U.S. Constitution.

SNAP is a federally-funded, state-administered program providing billions of dollars in food assistance to tens of millions of low-income families across the country.

Ellison says SNAP applicants provide their private information on the understanding, backed by long-standing state and federal laws, that their information will not be used for unrelated purposes.

Minnesota receives roughly $1.4 billion a year to administer the program to over 400,000 Minnesotans. Ellison says any delay in funding could be catastrophic for the state and the residents who rely on SNAP benefits.