Pallek et al. v. Rollins et al.
On May 22, 2025, Student Defense, Protect Democracy, and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, filed a lawsuit challenging a demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for states and third-party vendors to turn over the personal data of tens of millions American citizens who receive help buying food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The case was filed on behalf of students, SNAP recipients, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).
The plaintiffs are accusing the USDA of exceeding its authority and violating several federal statutes, including the Paperwork Reduction Act, the E-Government Act, and the Privacy Act.
Following a March 2025 executive order, the USDA demanded that state administrators hand over sweeping datasets of personally identifiable information about millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an effort being led by the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.
SNAP is a vital lifeline for millions of students trying to make ends meet while they pursue their degree. Studies show that college students who face food insecurity are 43 percent less likely to graduate. Yet, over 1.5 million college students across the country are eligible for SNAP but are not enrolled.
Our goal is simple: We want to keep food on the table for students and SNAP recipients across the country while keeping their personal data from being mishandled by DOGE.
The press release issued after this case was filed is available here.
News Coverage:
Lawsuit Challenges USDA Demand For Food Stamp Data as Some States Prepare to Comply
| May 22, 2025 | NPR
Privacy and Hunger Groups Sue Over USDA Attempt to Collect Personal Data of SNAP Recipients
| May 23, 2025 | ABC News
Case Documents: