Over 20 states sue Trump administration over sharing social services info
A sign marks the entrance to the headquarters of the Social Security Administration located on Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland on January 11, 2005. (Credit: Dennis Brack/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A coalition of more than 20 states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to prevent federal officials from receiving wide access to the personal information of millions of Americans who receive assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
The TANF program provides more than $16 billion to states, D.C. and tribal governments in the form of grants that the local governments then have broad discretion to use to help low-income families through cash assistance, job training or other programs.
Over 20 states sue federal government over sharing of social services info
Big picture view:
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Washington, D.C., challenges a proposed federal policy that would permit the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to share sensitive recipient data – including immigration status, Social Security numbers, and other personal information – with other federal agencies and, in some circumstances, outside entities performing government functions.
The legal challenge marks the latest dispute between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration over data-sharing, immigration enforcement and federal oversight of benefits.
State officials argue that the proposed data-sharing policy exceeds the federal government's authority and could undermine the privacy of families who rely on anti-poverty assistance.
What they're 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," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
The states joining the lawsuit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, along with the District of Columbia. The governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania have also signed on to the lawsuit.
Judge prevents Trump administration from withholding TANF and related assistance funding
The backstory:
Earlier this year, a judge prevented the Trump administration from withholding TANF and other subsidy program funding from a handful of Democratic-controlled states, after the federal government said there was "reason to believe" the states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally. A federal government lawyer later said the move was largely in response to news reports about possible fraud.
RELATED: Nearly 4.3 million Americans lost SNAP benefits last year
The federal Administration for Children and Families declined to comment Monday to The Associated Press.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.