Attorneys general from roughly two dozen Democratic-controlled states filed a lawsuit on Monday, seeking to block the Trump administration from sharing personal data of low-income families receiving federal cash assistance with immigration enforcement agencies. The legal action, led by California, New York, and Washington, D.C., is the latest in a series of challenges accusing the administration of violating federal privacy protections to mine welfare program data.
The suit specifically targets a June 23 legal notice that expands the permissible uses of data from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF, established in 1996, provides billions in federal block grants to states to support low-income families with children, with states retaining flexibility in how they distribute the aid.
In their complaint, the states argue that the administration's move constitutes an “extravagant claim of authority” and a “gross breach of personal privacy,” potentially exposing Social Security numbers and other sensitive information to immigration authorities. They contend the action violates multiple federal laws that restrict the government's ability to share personal data.
“This Administration has used every means at its disposal to erode federal confidentiality protections and deploy unsubstantiated allegations of ‘fraud’ in order to target Plaintiff States’ antipoverty programs, TANF included,” the lawsuit states.
The Trump administration has defended the data-sharing arrangement as a necessary tool to combat fraud and ensure program integrity. However, the states view it as a deliberate effort to weaponize anti-poverty programs for immigration enforcement purposes.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) issued a sharp rebuke, saying, “Instead of helping families struggling with the rising cost of living, this administration is trying to turn antipoverty programs against the people they’re supposed to serve. TANF funds provide critical assistance to help families put food on the table, find safe housing, and make ends meet, but this administration is weaponizing TANF to illegally use millions of people’s most private personal information.”
The Hill has reached out to the Administration for Children and Families, the federal office overseeing TANF, for comment but has not yet received a response.
This lawsuit follows similar challenges by Democratic states over data-sharing policies affecting Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The administration's broader push to integrate federal databases for fraud detection has drawn widespread criticism from privacy advocates and state officials.
Legal experts suggest the case could hinge on interpretations of the Privacy Act and other statutes governing data use. The outcome may set a precedent for how federal agencies can share information across enforcement domains.
The states are seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the data-sharing arrangement pending a full hearing on the merits. The case adds to a growing docket of administration policies facing judicial review, including recent actions on health care coverage restrictions and federal research funding.
