In a move that NPR is calling “unprecedented,” the Trump Administration is moving to collect data retained by the states. 

The administration seeks to collect data on individuals in the United States by accessing databases run by the states. Last month, the Department of Agriculture announced that states must provide data on the “tens of millions of people” who sought federal food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) within the past five years. Furthermore, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued subpoenas to localities and states in order to extract the personal information of noncitizens. 

An executive order signed by the president in March supports this move. The executive order provides the federal government with “unfettered access” to data from state programs that receive federal funds. The order states that it aims to promote “inter‑agency data sharing" in order to eliminate “bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency while enhancing the Government’s ability to detect overpayments and fraud.” 

Some argue that while data sharing can promote efficiency, it also could cross the lines of federal laws set to protect individuals’ data. The Privacy Act of 1974 dictates that federal entities must inform the public of how their personal data will be used and protected before the agency is permitted to collect it. Furthermore, the agency is not entitled to use the data beyond its expressed purpose. 

Some privacy experts warn that this unrestrained use of personal data could be used to infringe upon individual's rights. However, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers has dismissed these concerns. 

“President Trump is streamlining data collection across all agencies to increase government efficiency and save hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” Rogers has stated. “The Trump Administration is committed to protecting the privacy of Americans.”