
New Federal SNAP Database Notice is a Call to Action for Data Privacy Protections for Working Families, Immigrants, and Other Individuals
Law & Policy InsightsHealth Information and Data SharingFood Safety and SecurityThe USDA has announced plans to make changes to how the federal SNAP recipient database is collected and utilized. The inclusion of a provision for including immigration status in data collection and tracking has raised suspicions that it is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to surveil and track immigrants. The database’s new routine uses become effective July 23, 2025 unless public comment prompts the USDA to make changes. As public health leaders and practitioners decide whether and how to comment on the notice and what may be needed to reassess in their own data sharing practices, a few notes and resources may be helpful.