California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday announced a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, challenging what he called an “unlawful and dangerous demand” for sensitive personal data about millions of Californians who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, comes as part of a multi-state effort led by Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
It argues that the USDA’s directive, requiring states to turn over names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and other private information dating back five years, violates federal privacy laws and exceeds the agency’s authority…