A federal judge appointed by President Bill Clinton has been assigned to preside over a high-profile lawsuit brought by a coalition of states challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to collect personal data from participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
On July 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney, who has served in the Northern District of California since 1995 and currently holds senior status there, has been assigned to the case.
Newsweek has sent email requests for comment to attorneys representing each of the twenty states, the federal agency, and attorneys for the administration.
Why It Matters
The lawsuit at the center of the case challenges a federal directive requiring states to turn over detailed personal information about SNAP recipients to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Filed by attorneys general from 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Kentucky, the suit argues that the USDA’s demand for data—including names, Social Security numbers, addresses, birth dates, and immigration status—oversteps legal boundaries and risks unauthorized sharing with other federal agencies.
The plaintiffs contend the mandate violates federal privacy laws and the Administrative Procedure Act.
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What To Know
State of California et al v. United States Department of Agriculture et al, challenges the federal mandate requiring states to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with sensitive personal information about all SNAP recipients dating back to January 2020.
The legal challenge comes in response to a March 2025 executive order signed by President Donald Trump that directed federal agencies to expand interagency data sharing. Following that order, the USDA began requesting extensive SNAP data from state agencies, warning that noncompliance could jeopardize federal funding for state-run SNAP programs.
The attorneys general claim that the USDA’s actions force states into a legal and financial dilemma: either comply with what they consider an illegal federal directive or risk losing millions in SNAP funding. The lawsuit seeks to block enforcement of the USDA’s demand and to prohibit the transfer of SNAP recipient data to agencies not directly involved in the program’s administration, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency.
The USDA has not yet publicly detailed its rationale for the data request or how the collected information would be used.
How many People Use SNAP?
Nationally, SNAP peaked at over 43 million in September 2020 and served an average of 41.7 million people per month in FY 2024. In New York, about 2.9 million people received SNAP benefits in May 2025, roughly 14.7% of the state’s population. Of those, nearly 1 million were children.
Nationally, more than 55 percent of SNAP recipients are in families with children.
Although non-citizens are generally not eligible to receive SNAP for themselves, federal law allows them to apply on behalf of U.S. citizen children.
The plaintiffs contend that the administration’s policy change could disproportionately impact mixed-status families by exposing them to increased scrutiny or enforcement and that the USDA’s demand for data that includes names, Social Security numbers, addresses, birth dates, and immigration status is unlawful and exceeds the agency’s authority.
They argue that the data could be improperly shared with other federal agencies, particularly those involved in immigration enforcement.
According to the lawsuit, such a requirement violates both the Administrative Procedure Act and federal laws that restrict the use and disclosure of SNAP data.
What People Are Saying
New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a press release dated July 28, 2025: “Families should be able to get the food assistance they need without fearing that they will be targeted by this administration,” adding: “I will not allow the SNAP benefits that millions of New Yorkers count on to be put at risk. We are suing today to stop this illegal policy and protect New Yorkers’ privacy and access to food assistance.” ag.ny.gov
The same day, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell pointed out in a press release: “In fact, the USDA itself has described SNAP as having “one of the most rigorous quality control systems in the federal government.”
Adding: “Those systems do not require, and have never required, that states turn over sensitive, personally identifying information about millions of Americans without any meaningful restrictions on how that information is used or shared with other agencies.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said: “President Trump continues to weaponize private and sensitive personal information—not to root out fraud, but to create a culture of fear where people are unwilling to apply for essential services,” adding: “This unprecedented demand for SNAP data violates state and federal privacy laws. California will not comply. We’ll see the President in court.”
What Happens Next
No hearings have been scheduled, and the case remains in its early stages. Judge Chesney’s assignment adds a notable element to the proceedings, as the court prepares to consider arguments over federal authority, data privacy, and administrative law.
The case could have significant implications for the privacy rights of SNAP recipients, particularly in the states and jurisdictions involved in the lawsuit.
If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could limit the federal government’s ability to collect or use personal information from individuals enrolled in federally funded food assistance programs.
