An old saying goes, “what gets measured gets managed.” This rings especially true for food insecurity in the United States. Recently, plans were announced to cancel the annual Household Food Security report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This cancellation could lead to significant gaps in understanding and managing food insecurity, which affects many American families.
Food insecurity is about more than just not having enough food. It reflects how often families can buy healthy meals or if they have to cut down on eating altogether. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation worsened. Many families struggled to put food on the table. According to recent data, almost 1 in 7 U.S. households faced food insecurity in 2023, and among children, that number climbs to nearly 1 in 5.
In Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Food Bank reported that over one-third of households experienced food insecurity at some point in 2024. If federal food security reports are discontinued, state and local data may not paint a full picture. Local statistics can be helpful, but they often miss crucial groups, like working-age adults or families with school children.
Timothy Snyder, a historian, warns us that abandoning facts leads to losing our freedoms. There’s been concern as key USDA personnel behind the food security survey were put on administrative leave following the announcement. Similarly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has delayed important data releases.
Measuring food insecurity is vital because recent legislation plans to cut $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This cut could impact 4 million people, mainly children and seniors, leaving them with reduced or no benefits.
Our research, done with colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlights the seriousness of these potential cuts. We studied the effects of ending SNAP emergency funds during the pandemic. Our findings revealed that states that ended this support early saw a 22% jump in food insufficiency, especially among households with children. Furthermore, these reductions made it harder for families to afford basic expenses like housing and healthcare.
Public health experts are raising alarms about these cuts. A coalition of 582 organizations, including the American Public Health Association, called these changes “devastating” and urged Congress to fix the damage. The health of our children, who rely heavily on SNAP, could be at risk. Food insecurity not only affects those who experience it directly; it has broader economic consequences, costing the nation around $237 billion annually in healthcare and other economic burdens.
Ignoring food insecurity won’t eliminate the problem; it will push it out of sight. Monitoring our population’s well-being is a basic responsibility of the government. Without accurate data, we lose the ability to evaluate policies, make informed decisions, and address the root of food insecurity.
For this reason, maintaining a clear picture of food insecurity is crucial. The well-being of countless families hangs in the balance, and understanding the situation is our first step toward solutions.
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