U.S. Government Ceases Publication of Comprehensive Food Insecurity Data

On September 20, 2025, the Trump administration announced the discontinuation of the annual food insecurity report, which has been produced for over three decades. The federal government, which has relied on data from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey to monitor Americans' access to sufficient food, stated that it considers the report "redundant, costly, politicized, and unnecessary." This decision has raised concerns among public health experts and anti-hunger advocates about the potential gap in data needed to understand and combat food insecurity.

The food insecurity measurement is vital because it provides insights into how many Americans struggle to access enough nutritious food. The USDA's survey includes questions about worries over running out of food, skipping meals, or reducing meal size, with the latest data for 2023 showing a food insecurity rate of 13.5%. The final report for 2024, which covers data collected during President Biden's last year in office, is expected in October.

Historically, the collection of food insecurity data began in the mid-1990s following concerns about widespread malnutrition and hunger. The efforts to document and measure hunger started in the 1960s with initiatives like the food stamp program, which was expanded significantly after reports and documentaries highlighted the prevalence of malnutrition and hunger among Americans.

In the past, tracking food insecurity has enabled policymakers, researchers, and aid organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of food assistance programs like SNAP and targeted interventions. The data helped identify needs during economic downturns, such as the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, and informed decisions on resource allocation.

Nevertheless, the USDA argues that there are other more timely and accurate data sources available, although specifics are unclear. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, emphasize that the absence of the USDA's comprehensive report may hinder transparency and obscure the true state of food insecurity, especially amid ongoing budget cuts to nutrition programs.

The USDA's decision has been justified as a move to eliminate what they describe as "redundant, politicized" surveys, but many believe it will weaken efforts to address food access issues. Meanwhile, organizations like Feeding America continue to track food insecurity, but rely heavily on USDA data, which may now be less comprehensive.

As policymakers and the public face rising food prices and economic hardship, the discontinuation of this metric raises significant questions about future monitoring and response strategies to hunger and nutritional deficiency. The decision underscores the ongoing debate over how best to measure and address food insecurity in the United States.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-administration-scraps-nation-comprehensive-food.html