The U.S. Department of Justice sued four states to force them to produce SNAP applicant data for the USDA. DOJ says missing data limits eligibility verification and undermines detection of overpayments and fraud.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits seeking court orders compelling Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota to provide required SNAP applicant and eligibility data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. DOJ alleges that the states’ failure to supply information hampers USDA’s ability to verify participants’ eligibility and to conduct effective oversight of benefit administration. According to DOJ, compliant states’ data shows that SNAP overpayments and fraud occur at a large scale each year, and that without timely access to applicant records, federal officials cannot reliably enforce determinations or prevent improper payments. DOJ’s action is framed as an oversight and enforcement measure: the injunctions are intended to improve the integrity of eligibility processes and strengthen fraud detection tied to benefit errors and suspect cases. The filing highlights the downstream consumer impact of administrative breakdowns in a major anti-poverty program, including the risk of identity abuse and improper receipt of assistance. DOJ’s complaint points to the need for consistent data reporting so that federal agencies can audit, measure, and respond to eligibility and payment problems across states.