The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the discontinuation of its annual Household Food Security Reports, a practice that has been a staple for over three decades. The USDA cited the survey's increasing "politicization" and deemed it "unnecessary to carry out the work of the Department" as reasons for its termination. This decision comes as food insecurity continues to rise across the United States.
The latest available data from September 2024 indicated that approximately 18 million U.S. households faced food insecurity in 2023, an increase of one million from the preceding year. This upward trend has been consistent since 2020. Barbara Laraia, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, expressed significant concern, highlighting the report's historical importance in gauging the performance of federal food programs. Laraia emphasized that "food insecurity" encompasses more than just hunger, including how families adapt their eating habits to ensure adequate nutrition.
Compounding these concerns, federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was substantially reduced by Congress in July 2025 through the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) suggest these cuts could impact roughly 4 million individuals, about 10 percent of current SNAP recipients, who may lose some or all of their benefits. The legislation is anticipated to reduce SNAP expenditures by $186 billion over a decade, introducing stricter work requirements and greater state cost-sharing responsibilities, which are expected to disproportionately affect young adults, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
The USDA's decision to end the household food security survey has ignited a critical discussion regarding data transparency and the accurate measurement of nationwide food insecurity. Critics argue that the absence of this annual report, especially in light of escalating hunger rates and reduced program funding, could impede the nation's ability to effectively combat and alleviate food insecurity. The USDA's justification that the survey's methodology relies on subjective questions has been met with skepticism, given the report's long-standing recognition as a benchmark by many researchers. Consequently, the termination of the Household Food Security Report creates a significant gap in understanding the full extent of food insecurity, potentially hindering targeted interventions and policy development for vulnerable populations.