No Data, No Problem: Trump Team Stops Tracking Hunger After Food Stamp Reductions

The Trump administration has announced it will end the federal government’s long-running annual report on hunger in America, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from advocates and experts. Officials say the survey had become “overly politicized” and “rife with inaccuracies,” while critics argue the move will make it harder to measure hunger amid recent cuts to food assistance programs.Background: Cuts to Food AidThe decision comes just over two months after President Donald Trump signed legislation that significantly reduced federal food aid. In July, Republicans pushed through a tax and spending cuts package that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected would leave around 3 million people ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.The move represented one of the most consequential shifts in food policy in recent years, with concerns that millions of low-income households would lose a critical safety net.Ending the USDA Hunger ReportThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed on Saturday that the upcoming Household Food Security Report, scheduled for release on October 22, 2024, would be the last. The annual report has been a central tool in tracking hunger and food insecurity across the nation for decades, helping policymakers, researchers, and aid organizations assess needs and shape responses.In its statement, the USDA defended the decision, claiming that the survey questions used to collect data were “entirely subjective” and did not provide an accurate reflection of food security.“The data is rife with inaccuracies slanted to create a narrative that is not representative of what is actually happening in the countryside,” the agency said. “We are currently experiencing lower poverty rates, increasing wages, and job growth under the Trump Administration.”The Administration’s JustificationThe Trump administration pointed to positive economic trends as evidence that hunger is declining and suggested that the USDA survey was inconsistent with these broader indicators. Officials highlighted Census Bureau data released earlier this month showing that the U.S. poverty rate fell from 11% in 2023 to 10.6% last year, before Trump took office.According to the administration, such numbers reflect the success of policies aimed at boosting wages and expanding job opportunities, making the hunger survey less relevant.Critics RespondHowever, critics argue that the decision to discontinue the hunger report is less about accuracy and more about obscuring the real impact of recent policy changes. Anti-hunger groups, researchers, and political analysts warn that without reliable annual data, it will be far more difficult to track whether food insecurity is rising, especially among vulnerable groups affected by the food stamp cuts.“Trump is cancelling an annual government survey that measures hunger in America, rather than allow it to show hunger increasing under his tenure,” said Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank. “This follows the playbook of many non-democracies that cancel or manipulate reports that would otherwise show less-than-perfect news.”Advocacy groups also stressed that the USDA’s food security data has historically been considered the gold standard in hunger research, relied upon by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Eliminating the report, they warn, risks leaving policymakers “flying blind” when it comes to understanding the needs of low-income families.Broader ImplicationsThe end of the USDA hunger report highlights a growing clash between the administration’s claims of economic progress and critics’ warnings that poverty and hunger remain pressing challenges. While official poverty rates have dipped, millions of Americans continue to rely on food aid, food banks, and community support programs.Experts say that without annual federal data, private researchers and non-profit organizations may struggle to capture the full picture of food insecurity nationwide, potentially weakening efforts to hold the government accountable for policy outcomes.The controversy underscores the political stakes around hunger in America, where the battle over data is increasingly tied to broader debates about inequality, public assistance, and the role of government in supporting struggling households.

No Data, No Problem: Trump Team Stops Tracking Hunger After Food Stamp Reductions

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