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In February, the federal government took a proactive step by requesting all states to submit their data relating to food stamp recipients to facilitate a comprehensive review. This initiative was a partnership with the USDA, aiming to identify and eliminate fraud more efficiently. The goal was twofold: ensure that benefits are awarded only to qualified individuals and protect taxpayer funds from being misused.
Partial Cooperation and Resistance from States
The response to this federal request has been mixed. As of now, 21 states have agreed to cooperate, including California, New York, and Minnesota—states often categorized as blue or Democratic-leaning. Their cooperation represents a positive step toward transparency and accountability.