Washington: Catholic Charities affiliates across the United States are expressing alarm after the Trump administration announced plans to suspend federal food assistance to 21 states caught in a dispute over data-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The potential cutoff, local leaders say, could deepen hunger and overwhelm nonprofit food networks already strained by rising demand.
The conflict began in May when Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins ordered states to submit additional information about SNAP recipients including immigration status, income details, and personal identifiers to verify eligibility and prevent fraud. While 29 states provided the records, 21 Democratic-led states refused and filed a lawsuit arguing the mandate violates privacy protections and exceeds federal authority.
Rollins told cabinet officials on Dec. 2 that the administration will begin withholding SNAP funds next week from states that do not comply.
“We will stop transferring federal dollars to any state refusing to provide the data necessary to root out fraud and protect American taxpayers,” she said.
Rollins also claimed an internal review of the 29 compliant states revealed 186,000 beneficiaries using Social Security numbers belonging to deceased individuals and around 500,000 duplicate benefit cases, though the Agriculture Department has not released the full data publicly.
If the funding freeze takes effect, it will mark the second major interruption to SNAP in recent weeks. In November, benefits were delayed nearly two weeks due to the government shutdown standoff, a disruption that triggered widespread anxiety among recipients and relief organizations.
For many states now at risk, Catholic Charities is the largest food provider after SNAP, meaning the burden of lost benefits will fall directly on their already overstretched operations.
In Oregon, Catholic Charities Chief Operating Officer Rose Bak said her organization has depleted most of its emergency reserves after last month’s delays and soaring grocery prices.
“We’ve gone through most of our supplies,” she said. “Our partner pantries have never been this low on stock. Our phones were ringing nonstop. Our inboxes exploded. Another disruption will definitely be worse.”
Bak said families are fearful. “People are scared,” she added. “They don’t know how they will feed their children.”
In Baltimore, Catholic Charities COO Ashley Valis warned that another cutoff would create “immense strain” on households already wrestling with inflation, job instability, and medical expenses.
“Food insecurity forces children, parents, and older adults into impossible choices,” Valis said. “Do they pay rent, buy groceries, or purchase medications? No one should have to choose.”
James Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Washington, D.C., said any SNAP interruption would sharply increase emergency food requests.
“These benefits are essential for veterans, children, and low-wage workers juggling multiple jobs,” Malloy said. “Cuts will certainly increase the need.”
Catholic Charities USA launched a national fundraising campaign in late October to help local affiliates absorb November’s disruption. With a second crisis looming, local branches fear even these emergency efforts may not be enough. The national office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As the legal battle between the administration and state governments continues, Catholic Charities leaders warn that millions of vulnerable Americans could be caught in the crossfire, facing hunger at the start of winter unless a resolution is reached quickly.