Arizona may be at risk of losing federal food aid support after state officials again refused to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with detailed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility data. The dispute has triggered warnings from federal agencies and concern from state lawmakers who say the impasse could directly affect families who rely on SNAP to buy groceries.

Arizona State Representative Nick Kupper (R-25) issued a letter to Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes urging them to comply with federal requirements. Kupper cited a statement from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who said that states refusing to share the mandated data “risk losing federal funding for the program.”

“The federal government has made the requirement clear,” Kupper wrote. “If Arizona refuses to comply, our state risks losing SNAP funding altogether. That outcome would punish people who legitimately need help.”

Kupper warned that the decisions by Hobbs and Mayes to continue withholding the data could jeopardize the program’s integrity and disrupt food access for eligible households.

“Families who follow the rules and rely on SNAP to get through the week should not be put at risk because the Governor and Attorney General are choosing political fights,” he said in a news release. “Failing to comply protects only those who are abusing the system, at the direct expense of the citizens who truly rely on it.”

In his formal letter, Kupper described USDA’s warning as explicit and immediate, writing, “This is not a speculative warning. This is a direct statement about the consequences Arizona now faces.”

The Arizona Globe asked Kupper why this issue was important for him to address, “It’s important to me because I get sick and tired of politicians playing political games especially around reelection time. That’s one of the reasons I ran, because most politicians suck, claimed the state lawmaker.”

Both Hobbs and Mayes have defended their decision, citing federal privacy protections. Arizona is part of a multi-state lawsuit challenging USDA’s directive, and a federal court has already issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement while the case proceeds. Hobbs has publicly questioned the scope of USDA’s fraud claims, while Mayes argues the mandate violates SNAP confidentiality statutes and risks exposing personal data of low-income residents.

Kupper rejected that position, saying the legal resistance “does nothing to strengthen SNAP’s integrity, they undermine it,” adding that “the only people helped by withholding this data are those who do not qualify for SNAP, while those who legitimately need assistance are left to suffer the consequences.”

SNAP benefits are federally funded, but states depend on separate federal administrative dollars to operate the program — including eligibility verification, case management, and EBT distribution. USDA has warned that noncompliant states could lose that administrative funding.

Kupper emphasized that point, writing, “Provide the necessary data to the federal government so that Arizona can remain in compliance and protect the SNAP program. Doing so ensures that families across our state can continue to put food on the table next week and in the years ahead.”

The dispute comes as Arizona heads into a competitive 2026 election year. Kupper cautioned that political considerations must not interfere with essential programs.

“I fully understand that next year is an election year,” he wrote. “But the well-being of our citizens is far more important than whether any of us get reelected.”

For now, federal courts have slowed enforcement, but USDA has not withdrawn its threat. The standoff continues to place pressure on Arizona officials — and to create uncertainty for the nearly 900,000 Arizonans who rely on SNAP assistance.