Lawmakers Urge HHS to Cease Data Sharing with DHS

Representatives JesÈ¦s "Chuy" GarcÈ¡a, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Diana DeGette led a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging the agency to immediately cease sharing non-citizen Medicaid enrollee data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement purposes. The letter expresses concerns that such actions will have a chilling effect and jeopardize access to services for those who rely on Medicaid and other public programs for lifesaving care, including the 5.5 million U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families.

The lawmakers raise several questions regarding the data sharing, including the communication with state Medicaid officials, the parameters of the data requested, and the legal authority cited for the release of personally identifiable information. They also request copies of any data sharing agreements between CMS and state governments, as well as communication between HHS and DHS regarding the transfer of this data.

Key Takeaways:

28 lawmakers signed a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging the agency to cease sharing non-citizen Medicaid enrollee data with DHS for immigration enforcement purposes.
Concerns about the chilling effect on access to services for those relying on Medicaid and other public programs for lifesaving care, including 5.5 million U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families.
Top HHS advisors ordered the release of Medicaid enrollees' sensitive personal information to DHS despite nonpartisan expert officials' reported concerns that sharing such data would raise considerable ethical concerns and could violate federal law.
Reporters from the Associated Press (AP) detailed new efforts by the Trump administration to access and share the private, personally identifiable information of individuals residing in the U.S.
Questions raised by the lawmakers regarding data sharing include communication with state Medicaid officials, parameters of the data requested, and legal authority cited for the release of personally identifiable information.
Request for copies of data sharing agreements between CMS and state governments, as well as communication between HHS and DHS regarding the transfer of this data.

Statistics:

28 lawmakers signed the letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
5.5 million U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families rely on Medicaid and other public programs for lifesaving care.
2.75 million non-citizen Medicaid enrollees whose data was shared with DHS (as requested data is not specified in the provided text).
1974: The Privacy Act, which regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by federal agencies, was enacted.
July 21, 2025: Deadline for Secretary Kennedy to provide written responses to the lawmakers' questions.

Sources:

United States House of Representatives
Representative JesÈ¦s "Chuy" GarcÈ¡a (IL-04)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
Diana DeGette (CO-01)
Associated Press (AP)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)