PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joined 21 other states Monday in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over an "unprecedented demand" for sensitive personal information of food assistance recipients.

The lawsuit challenges a directive issued in May by the USDA, requiring states to collect and share data on individuals who have applied for or received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since Jan. 1, 2020. That includes names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, addresses, and all records used to determine eligibility.

SNAP is a federally funded, state-administered program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families in need. In Rhode Island, it is managed by the Department of Human Services and

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