News

Maine among states targeted by Trump administration over SNAP recipient data request

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio, Associated Press


Gov. Janet Mills and other Maine Democrats are pushing back on the Trump administration’s threat to withhold administrative funding for a food stamp program.

The Trump administration says it will withhold the funding for SNAP in Democrat-led states that don’t hand over data about the program’s recipients, which it says will be used to combat fraud.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that 28 states and Guam have complied with the request, while 21 have not.

Gov. Janet Mills said the state won’t comply with the demand, calling it a “cruel and callous attempt.”

Maine Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree called the administration “lawless and capricious” and says the state can’t fund the program on its own long-term.

States and the federal government split the administrative costs for SNAP.

Maine Republican House Minority Leader Katrina Smith told our info partners at CBS 13 Gov. Mills is playing politics and that there’s no reason the state shouldn’t hand over the data.

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins also urged the state to be transparent with the data requested, in an effort “to prevent waste, fraud, or misuse of these taxpayer-funded benefits that help so many American families.”

Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden said the request has been blocked by one court, and that the state is already providing information to ensure program integrity.

States have until next week to comply with the order or lose funding.

Latest Headlines

16 hours ago in Entertainment

‘Sinners,’ ‘Wicked: For Good,’ ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ advance in Oscars shortlists

Ryan Coogler's bluesy vampire thriller "Sinners," the big screen musical "Wicked: For Good" and the Netflix phenomenon "KPop Demon Hunters" are all a step closer to an Oscar nomination.

23 hours ago in Entertainment

‘General Hospital’ star Anthony Geary of Luke and Laura fame dies at 78

Anthony Geary, who rose to fame in the 1970s and '80s as half the daytime TV super couple Luke and Laura on "General Hospital," has died. He was 78.

23 hours ago in Entertainment

Prosecutors will charge Rob Reiner’s son Nick with 2 counts of murder in killing of his parents

Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, Los Angeles County prosecutors said Tuesday.