Government Shutdown Halts Food Security Data Collection Amid Worsening Hunger Crisis

Government Shutdown Worsens Hunger as Trump Administration Halts Food Security Tracking The federal government shutdown entered its second week on January 10, with no resolution in sight to the funding impasse between Democrats and Republicans. As the stalemate continues, nutrition experts warn that women and children reliant on federal food assistance programs are at risk of losing their grocery benefits. In a move seen as particularly concerning by advocates for the hungry, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) discontinued the Household Food Security Report just before the shutdown began. The report was the nation's primary tool for tracking food insecurity, providing critical data to policymakers and aid organizations. "This survey is essential for understanding the scope of hunger in America," said Dr. Mariana Chilton, a nutrition expert at Drexel University. "By stopping this report, the administration has essentially taken away our ability to track the impacts of the shutdown on food security." The USDA's decision to discontinue the report was made despite warnings from experts that it would hinder efforts to address rising hunger in America. "We're not just talking about people who are struggling to put food on the table," said Senator Chuck Schumer, D-NY. "We're talking about children who may go hungry because their parents can't afford to feed them." The Household Food Security Report was first introduced in 1995 and has been conducted annually since then. It provides data on household food security, including measures of hunger and food insecurity. According to the most recent report, released in 2019, nearly one in eight households experienced food insecurity at some point during the year. The report also found that women and children were disproportionately affected by food insecurity. The shutdown's impact on federal food assistance programs is already being felt. Food banks and pantries are reporting increased demand for services as families struggle to make ends meet. As the shutdown continues, advocates for the hungry are calling on lawmakers to prioritize funding for nutrition programs and reinstate the Household Food Security Report. "We need to get back to tracking the data that will help us understand the scope of hunger in America," said Chilton. "We can't just ignore it and hope it goes away." The current status of the shutdown remains uncertain, with no clear resolution in sight. Lawmakers are expected to continue negotiations on a funding bill, but it is unclear when or if a deal will be reached. In the meantime, advocates for the hungry will continue to push for increased funding for nutrition programs and reinstatement of the Household Food Security Report. "We're not just talking about people who are struggling to put food on the table," Schumer said. "We're talking about children who may go hungry because their parents can't afford to feed them." *Reporting by Motherjones.*