Democratic-run states have ignored the federal government’s warning not to provide illegal immigrants with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and failed to send their data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins.
While 29 states have complied with the USDA’s request, 21 Democratic states have failed to comply, Rollins said in an interview Sunday with Fox & Friends. The Trump administration has sought the data to review it for fraud and unlawful use by illegal immigrants.
On my first day @USDA, we told every state to send us their SNAP data so we could make sure illegal immigrants aren’t getting benefits meant for American families. 29 states stepped up. 21 blue states refused — and two SUED US FOR ASKING! 🤦🏻♀️
And guess what? In just the states… pic.twitter.com/W7ha0Le1eN
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) November 2, 2025
Rollins’ comments come as benefits were set to stop on Nov. 1 for over 40 million Americans who use the program due to the ongoing government shutdown. The Trump administration is using a contingency fund to cover half of SNAP benefits for the month of November following federal court rulings.
“We sent letters to every governor in America being very clear that no illegal aliens can use SNAP – zero, zero, zero,” Rollins told Fox News. “We asked every state for the first time in history, and this was in February, to send us their data and let us with DOGE and a war room actually start going through this data to better understand how this explosion of SNAP benefits happened under Joe Biden.”
According to Rollins, there was almost a 40% increase in SNAP during the Biden administration. Since Trump’s second term, almost 700,000 people have been taken off of SNAP due to illegal use and over 100 individuals have been arrested, she added.
Great working with @USDA to help stop illegal aliens from fraudulently receiving SNAP benefits. https://t.co/c7yrXwF5o0
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) November 2, 2025
“What this national conversation has allowed is a national spotlight on a broken and corrupt program,” the secretary said, adding USDA also found about 5,000 dead people who were still being sent benefits.
“Guess what? There’s a new sheriff in town. His name is Donald Trump, and this program will be reformed, we will hold people accountable, and we will be able to help those who really need it,” Rollins said.
