Maine officials respond to Trump administration threats to cut SNAP funding

PORTLAND (WGME) — A new threat from the Trump administration involving SNAP benefits has 21 states scrambling, including Maine.

The Agriculture Secretary says the states, all run by Democrats, have refused to share data about SNAP recipients, including immigration status, adding that federal administrative funding for the program in those states could end in a matter of days as a result.

Maine food pantries and government officials say it’s just going to add more stress to food assistance programs.

“They’re lawless, they’re capricious,” Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said.

“I don’t see a reason not to share that information,” Maine GOP Assistant Leader Katrina Smith said.

The Trump administration is now demanding information such as names and a person’s immigration status before they release administrative funding for state food assistance programs. It’s a demand that’s part of an ongoing lawsuit involving Maine and several other states.

“They don’t want to turn over data to a federal government where they’re not exactly sure how they’re going to use it,” Pingree said.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is urging Maine to be transparent with the administration about the data “to prevent waste, fraud or misuse of these taxpayer-funded benefits.”

Representative Jared Golden (D-Maine) disagrees.

“Maine already provides the information necessary to ensure program integrity, and this new request has already been blocked by one court,” Golden said.

Governor Janet Mills was quick to respond to this latest action from the White House.

“The Governor and Attorney General will stand in the way of this cruel and callous attempt,” Mills said.

Meanwhile, Republicans called out Mills directly.

“I think what you find is just this immediate political posturing from Governor Mills that says ‘no’ to everything the federal government is asking,” Smith said.

Leaders for Maine’s largest food bank say they are learning to adjust to a new normal since SNAP benefits stopped flowing temporarily during the government shutdown.

“We have been rebounding and rebuilding from panic and scared visits to food pantries since that time,” Good Shepherd Food Bank President Heather Paquette said. “This is a potential to reignite an already scared community.”

While there is no immediate threat to SNAP recipients, the food assistance program is supported by both the state and the federal government.

“Month to month, maybe the, you know, the state could handle the administrative funding for a while. But that’s a shared expense,” Pingree said.

States, including Maine, will have until next week to release information about SNAP recipients before the funding is pulled.

CBS13 reached out to the Governor’s Office Tuesday, asking why Maine is withholding this information and if they would be able to provide support to SNAP recipients if benefits stop flowing again.

We have not heard back.