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California Attorney General Rob Bonta asked a federal judge Monday to enforce a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from requiring states to turn over personal and sensitive information about millions of people who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Bonta filed the motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, arguing that the administration’s renewed demand for the data — and its threats to cut off funding to states that refuse to comply — violate an existing court order and federal law.
Earlier this year, Bonta sued the Trump administration after federal officials demanded that states provide extensive personal information about SNAP recipients. The state alleged the request violated federal privacy protections and exceeded the government’s authority. The district court agreed the demand was likely unlawful, finding the administration had indicated it intended to disclose or use the information for purposes unrelated to administering the nutrition program. The court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the request.
In the new filing, Bonta and a multistate coalition of attorneys general say the administration has effectively revived the same demand and again warned states that their administrative funding could be at risk if they do not turn over the data.
“The Trump Administration’s latest demand for SNAP data is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to get around an existing court order,” Bonta said in a statement, adding that California would not provide private information about SNAP recipients.
SNAP is a federally funded, state-administered program that provides billions of dollars in food assistance each year to tens of millions of low-income people nationwide. To apply, participants must provide personal and financial information, which federal law restricts to uses related to operating the program.
California receives more than $1 billion annually in federal funding to administer SNAP. State officials argue that any delay or loss of that funding could disrupt benefits, administrative operations and services relied upon by families across the state.
The administration first issued its data demand in July, according to the court filing. A renewed demand followed in November and included what federal officials described as a proposed data security and sharing protocol. The coalition argues that the protocol does not cure the legal problems identified by the court because it would still allow the federal government to share and use the information in ways unrelated to SNAP administration.
Attorneys general said the U.S. Department of Agriculture rejected concerns raised by states about the protocol and quickly sent letters warning that administrative funding could be withheld. The states are asking the court to enforce its injunction and block any further threats tied to the disputed data request.
The motion is the latest in a series of legal actions brought by Bonta challenging Trump administration policies related to SNAP. During a recent federal government shutdown, California sued the USDA to compel payment of November benefits. Two federal district courts ruled the administration had acted unlawfully. When the government asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause one of those orders, California opposed the request. The request was later withdrawn after the government reopened. SNAP is now funded through September 2026.
Last month, Bonta also sued over USDA guidance that California said improperly excluded certain lawfully residing noncitizens from SNAP eligibility. After the lawsuit was filed, USDA issued revised guidance. A federal judge also granted a preliminary injunction barring the administration from penalizing California for any errors resulting from the earlier guidance.
The court has not yet ruled on the latest motion.
