Trump Administration Faces 24-State Lawsuit Over TANF Data-Sharing and Eligibility Checks

A coalition of 24 states and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Monday challenging a policy that would expand federal oversight of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and increase access to recipients’ personal information for eligibility reviews and compliance checks.

The states argue the policy would improperly expand federal access to sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, immigration status, addresses, marital status, and parentage details.

The administration says the move is intended to strengthen oversight, verify eligibility, and ensure taxpayer-funded benefits are provided in accordance with federal requirements.

Led by New York, the coalition asked a federal court to block implementation of the policy, arguing that Congress gave states broad authority over administering TANF programs and limited federal oversight to ensuring states meet statutory requirements, according to Courthouse News.

The administration has also raised concerns that some states have failed to adequately verify whether recipients meet federal eligibility requirements, including rules related to immigration status.

New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the policy, arguing that it would compromise the privacy of families who rely on assistance programs.

“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,” James said.

The states argue that expanding access to TANF records could discourage some eligible families from applying for assistance because of concerns that their information could be shared with immigration authorities or other agencies.