Minnesota Could Lose SNAP Benefits Amid USDA Recertification Threat
Minnesota could lose SNAP benefits if the state fails to meet new federal recertification demands issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The directive requires rapid, in-person recertification of SNAP recipients and extensive personal data collection. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed suit, arguing the mandate is unlawful, unworkable, and risks exposing sensitive personal information. State and local officials warn the move could disrupt food assistance for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans and discourage eligible families from seeking help.
Minnesotans could lose access to federal food assistance after the U.S. Department of Agriculture threatened this month to cut off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits unless the state rapidly recertifies recipients. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed suit against the agency on December 23, calling the demand unlawful, unworkable, and a risk to sensitive personal data, including immigration status.
Few government programs touch as many Minnesotans as SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. The program distributes $875 million in benefits annually to more than 440,000 residents.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told states in December that failure to recertify SNAP recipients by January 16 could result in the withdrawal of federal funding for food assistance programs. The directive includes requirements for extensive in-person interviews, detailed household information, and personal data reaching back to January 2020.
Ellison said the USDA mandate is impossible to meet and violates federal law. His office estimates it would require more than 60,000 overtime hours in Hennepin County alone.
The lawsuit argues that the USDA’s demand for 100,000 in-person interviews breaches the federal Food and Nutrition Act. Minnesota joined a multistate legal challenge against the federal directive last fall, with Oregon among the first states to sue.
The USDA’s request asks for detailed information on all household members, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, residential and mailing addresses, and immigration and citizenship status.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, speaking about his state’s multi-state lawsuit, described the federal directive as unnecessary. “It is wild and absolutely stupid that we have to be here,” he said. “But we have to be here because people absolutely need food assistance in this country, especially when we are facing an affordability crisis.”
Ellison stressed the importance of protecting access to SNAP as families in Minnesota confront financial pressures. “We have seen real wages decline,” he said.
“At the same time, there has been an escalation in expenses, from credit card payments to student loans. Bankruptcy rates are rising. Families across Minnesota are in a very precarious financial situation, particularly those most vulnerable,” said the attorney general.
Ramsey County Commissioner Rena Moran emphasized the program’s role in local communities. “We have about 35,000 active SNAP cases providing benefits to 68,500 individuals,” she said. “We also serve nearly 9,800 people through 3,500 infant cases. SNAP provides a critical safety net for families, children and seniors. On average, individuals receive about $170 per month to help meet basic food needs.”
The USDA has linked the recertification push to alleged widespread fraud in the program, though it has not released evidence to support the claim. Rollins has said fraud is rampant, stating during a cabinet meeting that “186,000 deceased men, women and children in this country are receiving a check.”
The department has not released data from 28 states that complied with the request, raising concerns about transparency. St. Paul Ward 1 Council Member Anika Bowie called access to SNAP a public health issue.
“You need nutrition when you are going through cancer. You need nutrition if you are a senior. You need nutrition if you are a child,” Bowie said. “This is about basic nutrition. That is a right.”
Ellison and privacy advocates warned that aggressive recertification could discourage eligible residents from applying for assistance. “Fear of reprisal and inappropriate government data sharing, such as the immigration status of household members not receiving benefits, often prevents people from enrolling in food assistance despite need,” said Hayley Tsulayama of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
“Discouraging eligible people from enrolling in SNAP is counterproductive. The program is meant to reduce food insecurity, improve health outcomes, and benefit local economies.”
Immigration advocates have also expressed concern that the USDA’s data collection could be used to identify immigrants for deportation, citing previous practices under the Trump administration.
Minnesota reported an 8.9% SNAP error rate in 2024, nearly two points lower than the national average of 10.93% and lower than 33 other states.
“It is a shame that other states, many with Republican attorneys general, are not challenging federal overreach and violations of law,” said Brian Evans, press secretary for Ellison.
The outcome of Minnesota’s lawsuit could have major implications for both the administration of SNAP benefits and federal oversight of state programs. Ellison said the case is about protecting the most vulnerable Minnesotans while ensuring that sensitive personal data is handled responsibly.
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