Gov. Maura Healey is big on fighting for Massachusetts residents and following the law.
When it suits her agenda.
Right now Healey is digging in her heels in refusing to comply with USDA anti-fraud data requirements.
We should want to expose and end fraud, especially as the state Auditor’s Office announced late last week that, for the fiscal year that ended June 30, its Bureau of Special Investigations identified $11,952,288 in public assistance fraud after conducting 4,179 investigations. That’s $11,952,288 of our tax dollars.
As some of that fraud involves SNAP benefits, the USDA needs to be part of the investigation.
“In February of this year we asked for all of the states for the first time to turn over their data to the federal government, to let the USDA partner with them to root out this fraud to make sure that those who really need food stamps are getting them, but to also ensure the American taxpayer is protected,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
That seems straightforward enough, but the Blue State speed bump is derailing the plan. Because the information the USDA FNS (Food and Nutrition Service) needs includes recipients’ immigration status.
Massachusetts practically invented the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule to illegal immigration.
“The Trump Administration has refused to give us assurances that this sensitive personal data, including social security numbers, will not be turned over to ICE or abused for other purposes. A judge said this data shouldn’t be turned over, and there’s a case going on right now. If the Trump Administration agrees they will protect people’s sensitive data from places like ICE, we will of course consider providing it,” Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said.
“Places like ICE.” As in law enforcement. That’s what the Immigration and Customs Enforcement is, despite the many detractors labelling the agency as the Gestapo. ICE is federal law enforcement, and it is enforcing immigration law.
Healey seemed to get the memo in a March, 2025 interview with the New York Times.
“Congress makes the laws. I may not agree with everything Congress does, but that’s a democracy. That’s how our system works. Congress makes the laws. The judiciary enforces the laws and determines the application of the law. And the executive, and I’m an executive, my job is to faithfully apply and execute the law.”
Congress has “plenary” power over immigration. It decide
ke Healey to follow it.
President Trump’s administration put some spin on the ball, threatening to withhold funding for SNAP from 21 blue states for refusing to comply with those anti-fraud data requirements.
“It’s outrageous, it’s cruel, it’s appalling.” said Healey.
And yet, the Healey Administration is willing to withhold funding from cities and town not in compliance with the MBTA Communities ACT.
Already, Tewksbury Public Schools learned it won’t receive certain state funding in fiscal 2026 as a result of the town’s noncompliance.
In Middleton, the town lost a $2 million MassWorks grant that had already been awarded, along with funding for a Council on Aging passenger van.
Cruel? Appalling? Or just the consequences of not following a law Healey supports.
