Trump administration threatens to withhold SNAP funds from Rhode Island, Massachusetts

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — The Trump Administration is once again threatening to withhold SNAP funds from some states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, because they’re refusing to share the data of the people in each state receiving the benefits.

“That’s a matter of the courts in terms of the information. We believe that handing over private information violates a person’s rights. That’s why we’re in court right now,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said Wednesday.

The information the Trump Administration wants includes the names and immigration status of SNAP recipients.

Gov. Dan McKee spoke with NBC 10’s Gabrielle Caracciolo. (WJAR)

Twenty-two states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, sued the feds earlier this year over the demand to handover the data winning a preliminary injunction in October to halt the request.

Its not clear how the threat to withhold funding will impact the litigation.

“Very short term we can certainly help but we don’t have the funds to backfill that program,” Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi said.

The Trump Administration argues the data is needed to help root out fraud.

“I think when you’re dealing with thousands and thousands of people, you can’t absolutely guarantee it,” McKee said of fraud within the system. “But I know that we make sure that we put the effort in to make sure that the people who are receiving the benefit are entitled to the benefit.”

“I don’t think there’s a lot of fraud. I think there may be a lot of waste and a lot of inefficiencies in the program. I could say that’s just about a lot of programs. But there’s a difference between inefficiencies and waste and then actual fraud,” Shekarchi said. ‘Fraud is a criminal act and if there is fraud it should be prosecuted with full extended law and I support that. But overall the program helps a lot of needy Rhode Islanders and just because there may be a small percentage of waste or mismanagement doesn’t mean you stop the program. It means you fix it and make corrections along the way.”

In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement, “This is truly appalling and cruel. The Trump Administration is once again playing politics with the ability of working parents with children, seniors and people with disabilities to get food. President Trump needs to order Secretary Rollins to release SNAP funding immediately and prevent more Americans from going hungry.”