Oregon could again lose federal money that ensures food ends up on the tables of 757,000 low-income residents after the Trump administration announced Tuesday that it’d shut off the flow to Democratic-led states that haven’t turned over sensitive information about SNAP recipients. The states worry the information could help the feds bolster immigration enforcement efforts.
“Those demands are both unlawful and heartless and it’s not only wrong, but it’s also politically motivated and illegal,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. “For many families, SNAP is the difference between having groceries on the table and going without. Feeding Oregonians is not a political negotiation.”
It’s unclear if the Trump administration has the authority to issue the freeze and when it would take effect. But the move, if successful, could hit Oregon particularly hard, since the state has the third highest percentage of residents enrolled in SNAP, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. One in six Oregonians rely on SNAP, compared to one in eight people nationwide.
Though Oregon leaders and those in 22 other Democratic-led states likely wouldn’t give up without a fight, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that the tap would run dry for any states — and most of them are Democratic — that haven’t yet shared SNAP recipients’ personal information that includes names, immigration status, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. Federal officials say they need the information to stop fraud and prevent some immigrants from receiving federal money under SNAP.
But many blue states say the feds aren’t entitled to the information and worry that the feds will use it to interfere in the lives of immigrants.
The Oregonian/OregonLive asked the office of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek for its next steps and comment. The news organization didn’t hear back Tuesday afternoon.
The Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed by Congress in July, tightens eligibility requirements for federal food assistance, including on many categories of immigrants. The administration has been dueling Democratic-led states — including Oregon — that sued over demands to provide the personal information or attempts to sever benefits to legal immigrants whom the states argue are entitled to them. In September, a judge granted the states a temporary pause, saying they didn’t have to immediately share SNAP recipients’ personal information with the Trump administration.
Many Oregonians who receive monthly food assistance money are still reeling from a nationwide freeze to their benefits that started Nov. 1. Oregon officials, who administer the federal funds, worked overnight to restore the money to accounts six days later.
On average, recipients in Oregon receive a maximum of about $7.90 to $10 per person per day to spend on food, though many receive less depending on their income.
If the Trump administration is successful, it’s unclear when the cessation of benefits would occur. Oregon recharges SNAP recipients’ accounts during the first nine days of each month. So December’s benefits started Monday and will roll out through next Tuesday.
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