US Administration Cancels Annual Food Insecurity Survey
The Trump administration has cancelled the US Department of Agriculture's annual Household Food Security Report, a survey conducted for three decades to measure hunger and food insecurity. The administration claimed the report had become "overly politicised" and its data was "rife with inaccuracies." The move follows the 2023 report which showed the highest level of food insecurity since 2014 and comes amid major reforms to the US food assistance program, which critics say will cut off access for millions.
Unpacked:
The Household Food Security Report has been a key federal measure of hunger and food insecurity in the US for over 30 years. Policymakers, researchers, and advocacy groups used its data to track trends, shape anti-hunger policies, allocate resources, and evaluate the effectiveness of food assistance programs.
Supporters of the cancellation argue the report was politicized and inaccurate. Critics contend it is a vital, objective resource for understanding food insecurity and that ending it undermines transparency and accountability, especially as recent data showed worsening hunger rates.
Recent reforms—such as increased work requirements, reduced eligibility, and changes to benefit calculations—are expected to restrict access to programs like SNAP and WIC for millions, potentially increasing food insecurity among vulnerable populations, according to critics and anti-hunger organizations.
These changes are part of wider efforts to reform federal nutrition programs, as outlined in initiatives like Project 2025, which propose narrowing eligibility, increasing work requirements, and reducing program scope. Such reforms reflect ongoing debates over the role of government in addressing poverty and hunger.