U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced this week that 29 states have complied with a federal request to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data in order to ensure that illegal immigrants are not receiving benefits. Twenty-one Democrat-run states refused to provide the requested information, according to Rollins.
Rollins stated on November 2 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent letters to all 50 governors in February, reminding them that federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from accessing SNAP and requesting state data for a nationwide review. She noted that participation in the SNAP climbed by nearly 40 percent under the former Biden regime.
Rollins said the data-sharing initiative uncovered “thousands” of cases of illegal SNAP use, including fraudulent activity involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. She reported that nearly 700,000 people have been removed from the program since President Donald J. Trump returned to office, with more than 118 arrests tied to ongoing investigations into fraud.
“What this country has allowed is a national spotlight on a broken and corrupt program,” Rollins said. She also revealed that investigators found over 5,000 cases of people continuing to receive benefits after their death. “It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need,” she added.
In a post on X, Rollins reiterated that 21 blue states declined to share data and said that two of them have sued the USDA over the request. The SNAP program, commonly known as food stamps, has been a central issue during the ongoing government shutdown. A federal judge recently ruled that benefits must continue for the 42 million Americans who rely on them, although the Trump administration is seeking clarification on how the program can be legally funded during the shutdown.
According to the USDA, SNAP enrollment dropped by over 600,000 people between January and May 2025, from roughly 42.38 million to 41.74 million, a decline the Trump administration highlighted as evidence of reducing food stamp dependence.
Cut all funds to them off.