In a recent development from Washington, President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to withhold SNAP food assistance from beneficiaries in predominantly Democratic states. This change is set to take effect next week unless these states comply with a federal request to provide detailed information about aid recipients.

During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the administration’s stance. She highlighted that the requested data, which includes recipients’ names and immigration status, is critical for identifying and addressing potential fraud within the program. However, Democratic states have taken legal action to challenge this requirement, resisting the administration’s demands.

SNAP, a crucial lifeline for approximately 42 million Americans, provides essential support to low-income individuals and families, helping them purchase groceries. On average, beneficiaries receive around $190 per month, equating to just over $6 a day. Despite its usual place out of the political spotlight, the program has garnered significant attention this year due to the ongoing policy disputes.

About 42 million lower-income Americans, or 1 in 8, rely on SNAP to help buy groceries. The average monthly benefit is about $190 per person, or a little over $6 a day.

The program is not normally in the political spotlight, but it has been this year.

As part of Trump’s big tax and policy bill earlier in the year, work requirements are expanding to include people who are ages 55 to 64, homeless people and others.

And amid the recent federal government shutdown, the administration planned not to fund the benefits for November. There was a back-and-forth in the courts about whether they could do so, but then the government reopened and benefits resumed before the final word.

In the meantime, some states scrambled to fund benefits on their own and most increased or accelerated money for food banks.

The recipient records fight predates the attention SNAP received during the shutdown.

The administration initially asked states to provide data in February.

Most Republican-controlled states have already done so. Most Democratic-run ones have gone to court to block the requirement, objecting to being forced to hand over individual records, including immigration status of SNAP participants.