SNAP Jeopardized Again — This Time Because of Immigration Issues
5 min read
Millions of Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help buy groceries each month. But over the past few months, the program has faced uncharacteristic instability — including a nationwide delay in November after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Now, a new dispute between states and the federal government has raised another urgent question: Could SNAP payments be withheld again?
This article breaks down what is happening, why states and the federal government are in conflict, and what it means for people who depend on SNAP to put food on the table.
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Why SNAP Is Back in the Headlines
On Dec. 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it plans to withhold SNAP funds from certain states starting the following week.
The issue centers around a federal data request made in February 2025. The USDA asked states to share SNAP recipients’ names and immigration status, saying the data was needed to investigate potential fraud.
29 states complied
21 states + Washington, D.C. did not comply
The states declining to share the data include large states like California, New York, and Minnesota, which together serve millions of SNAP participants.
These states argue that providing the information would violate privacy laws and create risks for their residents.
What the USDA Says
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the USDA intends to stop transferring federal SNAP funds to non-compliant states until they provide the requested data.
Her statement:
“As of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states, until they comply.”
The USDA maintains that the data request is designed to “root out fraud” and ensure proper use of taxpayer funds.
What the Courts Have Said
This is not the first time the data-sharing issue has gone to court.
In October 2025, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction stopping the USDA from withholding SNAP funding over the data request.
The court found that withholding the funds would likely violate federal law.
The judge refused to pause the injunction even if the USDA appeals.
The USDA has until Dec. 15 to decide whether to appeal.
For now, the injunction remains in place, meaning states cannot legally lose their SNAP funds over this issue. However, USDA statements have caused confusion and concern among state officials, advocacy groups, and households trying to understand what comes next for this essential food assistance program.
Why This Matters: SNAP Is Already on Unsteady Ground
It’s important to put this new dispute in context.
SNAP benefits were already disrupted in November due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Funding for the program lapsed, and millions of recipients experienced delays or received reduced or partial payments until the shutdown ended on November 12.
The combination of:
a recent shutdown
paused funding
legal battles
public threats to withhold payments
…has created real uncertainty for SNAP households heading into the winter months.
How Many People Could Be Affected?
SNAP serves about 42 million people nationwide.
Roughly half of those individuals live in the 21 non-compliant states that are currently at the center of the dispute.
If federal funds were actually withheld (which a court has currently blocked), these states could not issue full benefits — or in some cases, any benefits — in the coming payment cycle.
What Happens Next?
Here’s the timeline:
Dec. 2: USDA announced it plans to begin withholding funds next week (week of Dec. 8).
Dec. 15: Deadline for USDA to decide whether it will appeal the existing court order.
Ongoing: States and the federal government continue to challenge each other in court.
At this moment, SNAP benefits remain protected by the court’s injunction, meaning states should still receive their funding.
However, because the situation is fluid, households should stay updated.
Bottom Line
This is a developing situation with legal, administrative, and funding implications, but here are the facts today:
SNAP benefits were already delayed in November due to the government shutdown.
USDA leaders have stated they intend to withhold SNAP funding over a data dispute.
A federal court has barred them from doing so.
Millions of households could be impacted if the injunction changes or if the dispute results in another funding lapse.