The World Upside-down

Comprehensive Report on Food Security in the USA

Understanding Food Security: Primary Needs of People

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It encompasses more than just having enough food - it involves having consistent access to adequate nutrition that supports overall health and wellbeing. When a household is food secure, it means food is consistently available, accessible, and properly utilized. The concept of food security has evolved significantly over time, reflecting a deeper understanding of hunger and malnutrition issues globally.

Food security is built upon four key pillars that must all be intact to achieve consistent dietary variety for individuals and communities. The first pillar is food availability, which means a food supply is consistently available for households to purchase and obtain. The second pillar is food accessibility, which ensures households can regularly acquire adequate amounts of appropriate and desired food for a nutritious diet. The third pillar is food utilization, which requires establishing an adequate diet through clean water, sanitation, and healthcare to reach nutritional well-being. The fourth pillar is food stability, involving the consistent and reliable maintenance of the other three pillars despite potential disruptions from natural disasters, wars, economic crises, or political instability.

Current State of Food Insecurity in the USA

Food insecurity is defined as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. In the United States, the prevalence of food insecurity remains alarmingly high. As of 2023, approximately 13.5% of U.S. households (representing 47.4 million Americans) experienced food insecurity at some point during the year. This includes about 13.8 million children living in households that experienced food insecurity, up 3.2 percent from 2022.

Food insecurity disproportionately affects certain populations. Rates of food insecurity were significantly higher for Black (23.3 percent) and Latinx (21.9 percent) households, both more than double the rate of White non-Hispanic households (9.9 percent). Additionally, households in the Southern region continued to experience higher rates of food insecurity than any other U.S. region, with 14.7 percent of households experiencing food insecurity in 2023. A higher portion of households in urban areas (15.9 percent) and rural areas (15.4 percent) experienced food insecurity compared to suburbs (11.7 percent).

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in many communities. According to Convoy of Hope's latest research — averaging three years of study between 2020 and 2022 — about 37.8 million people in America face food insecurity. This challenge transcends geographic and socioeconomic boundaries, affecting urban and rural communities alike. Despite the efforts of nonprofits and government agencies through the years, the issue of food insecurity remains a critical concern in 2025.

The Trump Administration's Food Security Policies and Actions

Under President Trump's leadership, several actions were taken regarding food security. The Trump Administration positioned itself as taking bold actions to bolster America's food supply amid the pandemic. The administration utilized resources to reinforce the food supply chain through shutdowns caused by COVID-19. At the beginning of the pandemic, President Trump held a meeting with grocery store executives to ensure shelves would continue to be fully stocked with fresh food and goods.

One significant initiative was the Farmers to Families Food Box program, which was launched in response to the pandemic. Through this program, the Trump Administration purchased up to $3 billion of fresh American produce, dairy, and meat products for families in need. In August 2020, the program was expanded with an additional $1 billion in funding. According to USDA reports, more than 70 million boxes were delivered to over 10,000 food banks and non-profit organizations, and thousands of jobs were saved or created through this initiative.

The administration also delivered $16 billion in direct payments to American farmers and ranchers who were hard hit by the pandemic. Additionally, President Trump signed an order and issued guidelines so that food processing facilities could safely operate throughout the pandemic. Through the CARES Act, the administration delivered stimulus checks and other financial relief to Americans impacted by COVID-19.

However, more recently in January 2025, the Trump administration signed an executive order that suspended all U.S. foreign development assistance – pending review – for 90 days, which includes international food security programs. This move raised concerns among food security advocates, especially given the increasing food insecurity rates in the United States and globally.

Promises vs. Reality: Comparing Trump's Statements with Actions

President Trump's claims about protecting America's food supply and ensuring no family goes hungryhave been called into question by current policies being implemented under his administration. In January 2025, Congress proposed spending cuts to important nutrition programs and safety nets such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). With approximately 47 million people (including almost 14 million children) in the U.S. who are food insecure, and over 760 million people experiencing hunger and malnutrition around the world, the Alliance to End Hunger has opposed these cuts and delays to food and nutrition programs.

The administration's approach to food safety has also raised concerns. In early 2025, two federal committees tasked with advising policymakers on food safety were disbanded as part of the administration's cost-cutting and government-shrinking goals. The elimination of these panels, whose members included experts from academia, industry, and nonprofits, alarmed food-safety advocates who point to large-scale outbreaks in recent years as a reason for needing more attention and modern science around food safety issues.

Trump's tariffs on imports from America's biggest trade partners - Canada, China, and Mexico - have been criticized for potentially raising prices "nearly everywhere". Economist Mary Lovely estimates that these tariffs could cost the average household around $1,200 per year across all product categories, a portion of which stems from tariffs on imported food products. The tariffs are expected to disrupt food supply chains and potentially lead to shortages alongside higher prices on groceries, especially for fresh, perishable foods like berries, bananas, tomatoes, avocados, peppers, and seafood.

Causes of Food Insecurity in the USA

Food insecurity in the United States stems from various interconnected factors. According to Feeding America, people facing hunger struggle with high living costs, expensive housing, unemployment, and low-wage jobs. The most common cause of food insecurity is low income. In 2016, low-income households were 2.6 times more likely than the average American household to be food insecure. Economic constraints force families to make difficult choices between food and other necessities.

Poverty and unemployment significantly impact food security. People with limited financial resources often cannot afford to buy food regularly and may live in areas where nutritious food at reasonable prices is scarce. Housing costs also play a crucial role. Even with careful budgeting and savings, the high cost of housing can make it difficult to have enough money left for food. Among those experiencing food insecurity, paying for rent and food were reported as the top financial concerns.

Health factors contribute significantly to food insecurity. Individuals with chronic health conditions may face challenges in maintaining employment and earning sufficient income. They may also incur substantial medical expenses that reduce funds available for food. Food insecurity is linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, asthma, and other chronic conditions, creating a cycle of poor health and financial strain.

Discrimination and systemic barriers exacerbate food insecurity for certain populations. Marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and those with disabilities, face higher risks of food insecurity due to systemic discrimination and poverty. These disparities are reflected in food insecurity statistics, with Black and Hispanic households experiencing food insecurity at rates more than double those of white households.

Geographic factors, including food deserts, contribute to food insecurity. Many rural and urban areas lack retailers and stores that supply fresh, nutritious food. In the United States, about 23.5 million urban and rural Americans live in food deserts, with nearly half of them in low-income areas. This limited access to healthy food options can lead to reliance on processed foods high in calories but low in nutritional value.

Solutions and Opportunities to Address Food Insecurity

Addressing food insecurity requires a multifaceted approach involving government programs, community initiatives, and systemic changes. Food assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) play crucial roles in addressing barriers to accessing healthy food. Studies show these programs may reduce food insecurity when implemented effectively.

Strengthening government safety net programs is essential. Policymakers should expand the emergency flexibilities included in pandemic-related legislation to ensure better access to program benefits. A "no wrong door" approach should be codified to provide struggling residents with cash, food, and housing assistance as needed, linking their eligibility to multiple benefit programs. Government agencies should collaborate and coordinate to ensure individuals and families struggling with economic precarity can quickly access the food benefits they need.

Improving access to affordable, nutritious food in underserved areas is critical. Financing initiatives or zoning regulation changes could incentivize building supermarkets and local grocery stores in food deserts and underserved areas. Creating food hubs by partnering with schools, community colleges, hotels, and other food-related businesses could provide storage and distribution capacity in communities lacking such infrastructure. Connecting federal food programs with local family farms, community gardens, and community-supported agriculture would provide fresh vegetables and fruits to individuals in food deserts.

Economic policies that address poverty and inequality are fundamental to reducing food insecurity. At the federal, state, and local levels, broad-based solutions such as increasing the federal minimum wage, offering workers paid family and medical leave and health care benefits, and providing affordable housing and transportation as well as quality child care and educational settings are necessary to help individuals and families build financial stability. Employers can play a crucial role by offering living wages, flexible schedules and paid leave, and affordable higher education and other opportunities for upward mobility.

Community-based approaches can complement government programs. Organizing food drives, volunteering at food banks, gleaning harvests that would otherwise go to waste, and supporting Meals on Wheels programs are practical ways individuals can contribute to addressing food insecurity in their communities. Donations of food, time, or money to food banks and other hunger relief organizations can have significant impacts.

Educational initiatives around nutrition and food preparation can empower individuals and families to make healthier choices even with limited resources. Programs like SNAP-Education and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) deliver nutrition lessons in hands-on formats to encourage improvement of family diet and nutritional well-being. These educational efforts help families maximize the nutritional value of the food they can access.

Unique Challenges for Vulnerable Populations

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of food insecurity. In 2022, 17.3% of households with children were food insecure. This is especially concerning as quality nutrition is crucial for brain development and learning during infancy and early childhood. The impact of food insecurity on children can be both long-term and temporary, influenced by broader legal, political, economic, and social factors.

Senior citizens face unique challenges related to food security. Programs like Meals on Wheels provide nutritious and ready-to-eat meals to seniors at a reduced or free cost. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides packages containing 10 days' worth of food and recipes specifically designed for seniors. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides vouchers that can be redeemed at participating farmers markets, increasing access to fresh produce for older adults.

Rural communities often experience higher rates of food insecurity than urban areas, due in part to limited access to grocery stores and transportation challenges. In rural areas, residents are considered to be in a food desert if they live more than 10 miles from a grocery store, compared to half a mile in urban areas. This geographic isolation can make accessing nutritious food particularly difficult for rural residents without reliable transportation.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted food security in the United States. Food insecurity rates plateaued over the last three years, disrupting an almost decade-long decline in food insecurity since the Great Recession. The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the food supply chain and exacerbated existing inequities in food access.

In response to these challenges, the federal government implemented several pandemic-related expansions to nutrition assistance programs. These included temporary boosts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, allowing schools to offer meals to all students at no charge, and expanding the Child Tax Credit. These measures helped prevent severe increases in food insecurity during the height of the pandemic.

However, as these pandemic-era programs expired, food insecurity began to rise again. The spike in food insecurity was likely largely driven by inflation and the rollback of these critical COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts. This demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust safety net programs during times of economic instability.

Future Directions for Food Security Policy

Moving forward, several policy directions could strengthen food security in the United States. Protecting SNAP benefits from cuts in the Farm Bill or other legislative vehicles is essential. The 2021 adjustment to the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to determine SNAP benefits, was an important step in increasing benefit levels, but further improvements are needed.

Making free Healthy School Meals for All available to all students would reinstate a policy that was successful during the pandemic and has been adopted by eight states. This universal approach removes stigma and ensures all children have access to nutritious meals during the school day.

Passing a permanent expanded and inclusive Child Tax Credit would create a more prosperous, nourished, and equitable nation. During its temporary expansion, the Child Tax Credit significantly reduced child poverty and food insufficiency among families with children.

Addressing the root causes of hunger requires tackling structural racism and other forms of discrimination that exacerbate food insecurity. By advancing policies that ensure fair wages and improve access to affordable housing, health care, and disability benefits, lawmakers can help break the cycle of poverty and hunger.

Conclusion

Food insecurity remains a significant challenge in the United States, affecting millions of Americans across diverse populations and geographic regions. The four pillars of food security—availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability—provide a framework for understanding and addressing this complex issue. While the Trump administration implemented some measures to address food insecurity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent policy directions including proposed cuts to nutrition programs and disruptions from tariffs have raised concerns about the future of food security in the nation.

Addressing food insecurity effectively requires a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening federal nutrition programs, improving access to affordable and nutritious food in underserved areas, implementing economic policies that reduce poverty and inequality, supporting community-based initiatives, and providing education around nutrition and food preparation. By tackling both the immediate symptoms and root causes of food insecurity, the United States can work toward ensuring that all Americans have consistent access to the nutritious food they need for active, healthy lives.