Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its latest report on food security in America. This could be the last of its kind. Recently, the Trump administration cut funding for future Household Food Security surveys, calling them “redundant” and “costly.” This move happened just after the passing of H.R. 1, a law that significantly reduces spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade.
According to the USDA’s 2025 report, nearly 14% of households—about one in seven—struggled with food security. This means they faced obstacles in accessing affordable and nutritious food. Alarmingly, 5.4% of these households experienced very low food security, leading families to skip meals or eat less often.
Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research and Action Center, emphasized the importance of this annual data. “Eliminating this report does not eliminate the problem. It just hides it,” she stated, highlighting the struggles many families face daily.
In Florida, food insecurity has risen alongside 27 other states. Between 2022 and 2024, food insecurity increased by 3.4% compared to the years 2019 through 2021. FitzSimons explained, “Over one in 10 households in Florida are struggling to put food on the table,” underscoring that this issue could affect anyone in the community, including children in schools.
The report reveals that food insecurity is more prevalent in the South and among Black and Latino households as compared to white households. Single-parent families and those earning below 185% of the federal poverty line—around $60,000 a year for a family of four in Hillsborough County—face the biggest challenges.
Experts warn that without the USDA’s data, there’s a significant gap in understanding food access. “No other entity can compile this data as effectively as the federal government,” FitzSimons said. Some groups, like the Urban Institute, are trying to figure out how to gather similar data, but it won’t be easy or cheap.
Since 2017, the Urban Institute has been conducting the Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, but as senior fellow Elaine Waxman noted, it can’t fully replace the detailed federal reports many rely on for decision-making.
Currently, Congress is considering reversing the decision to cut this vital data, with a proposed bill titled the Food Assurance and Security Act (H.R. 6252) introduced last November. However, progress has been slow.
Food security is an ongoing issue that affects millions. Understanding its scope is essential for creating effective policies.
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Big, Beautiful Bill,Food Research and Action Center,SNAP,Trump administration,USDA,Urban Institute ,food insecurity ,very low food security
