The Trump administration has finally had enough of Democrat-run states treating welfare fraud like a protected class. On Tuesday, the White House announced it will stop sending food stamp funds to 21 Democrat-held states and Washington, D.C.—all because they refuse to hand over basic SNAP recipient data. Instead of transparency, they’ve opted to run cover for illegals and widespread abuse.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins explained during a cabinet meeting that 28 states and Guam — all run by Republicans — already provided the required information, including names and immigration status of SNAP recipients. Meanwhile, Democrat states are stonewalling, pretending that refusing to track who gets billions in federal benefits is somehow “protecting privacy.”

“So as of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states, until they comply,” Rollins said, adding that the administration will partner only with states willing to root out fraud and protect taxpayers. A refreshingly simple concept—unless you’re a Democrat government official who thinks accountability is oppression.

Here’s the scale of the problem: more than 20 million SNAP recipients live in these Democrat-run states—almost half of all 42 million beneficiaries. That alone should raise eyebrows.

The administration requested this data months ago. Instead of cooperating, Democrats lawyered up and filed a lawsuit claiming the request violates privacy laws. Translation: “We don’t want anyone knowing how many illegal immigrants we’re subsidizing.” The lawsuit even admits the data could aid immigration enforcement—hence the panic.

While the Trump administration maintains the data will be used to clean up waste, fraud, and abuse, there’s no question it should also be used to help deport people who are here illegally and living off taxpayers.

SNAP, like most welfare programs, is notorious for abuse. It routinely allows individuals who don’t need assistance to game the system, and it lets recipients load up on junk food that has nothing to do with “nutrition.” But Democrats treat it like a sacred institution, immune from scrutiny.

Then there’s the immigrant welfare problem.

• 59% of illegal immigrant households use at least one welfare program.

• 52% of legal immigrant households use welfare.

• Only 39% of native-born households rely on it.

Food assistance is one of the biggest costs.

If the administration wants to go further, it should absolutely look at denaturalizing and deporting immigrants — legal or illegal — who live on public benefits. Historically, immigrants were barred from entering the U.S. if they were likely to become a “public charge.” But, thanks to the Clinton administration, that rule was gutted.

Earlier this year, USCIS reinstated it, reminding officers that public charge law must be taken seriously: immigrants must prove they are not likely to live off taxpayers.

And let’s not pretend Americans themselves haven’t abused SNAP. During the fall government shutdown, some recipients openly bragged online that if their benefits weren’t reloaded, they would simply steal their carts of junk food. A perfect snapshot of the entitlement mentality Democrats work so hard to cultivate and maintain.

Despite all this, Democrats and the corporate media still screech that reducing welfare fraud is akin to “stealing food from hungry citizens.” Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine even tried to revive that tired talking point after Rollins’ announcement.

The truth is simple: the only thing being “stolen” here is taxpayer money — and the Trump administration is finally doing something about it.