As someone who works on the front lines of hunger relief every day, I was deeply troubled by Saturday’s announcement that the USDA would cancel the decades-long Household Food Security Report. This critical annual survey tracks how many Americans struggle to put food on their tables, providing essential data that shapes our understanding of food insecurity nationwide.
The department dismissed this vital data source as “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous,” claiming these studies do nothing more than “fear-monger.” As an organization that relies on evidence-based approaches to address hunger in our community, I find these characterizations both inaccurate and concerning.
Data Is Not Political—It’s Essential for Solutions
The characterization of this research as “politicized” is particularly troubling. How we respond to that data can certainly involve policy decisions, but the information itself is not inherently political. This report has been published annually for 30 years throughout both Republican and Democratic administrations precisely because hunger transcends party lines.
The 2023 report revealed significant data: 47.4 million people lived in food-insecure households, including nearly 14 million children. Food insecurity among children increased by 3.2% compared to 2022—representing the largest rate of food insecurity the country has seen since 2014.
These numbers represent real families in our communities who face difficult choices every day. Families who may skip meals to ensure their children eat, or sacrifice nutritious food to pay rent. Understanding the scope and trends of food insecurity isn’t fear-mongering; it’s the foundation for effective action.
What We See in Howard County
Here in Howard County, the data aligns with what we observe daily in our work. Over 20% of households in our community face food insecurity, including many where adults work full-time but still struggle to afford adequate nutrition amid rising food costs. Howard County Public School System’s Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) data reveals that over 30% of kids are enrolled in the FARM program, with an income cut-off of just $39k per year for a family with two children to qualify. If that income cut-off was more accurately aligned with the cost of living, we could assume that well over 40% of children would qualify. This data matters as cuts to federal programs will result in reduced investment in school nutrition programs that these families rely on to supplement an already stretched food budget.
At Columbia Community Care, we don’t need a federal report to tell us that hunger exists. We work with food-insecure families every day. However, this comprehensive national data has been invaluable for understanding broader trends, comparing our local situation to national patterns, and advocating for resources and policy changes that address root causes.
Why This Data Matters
The Household Food Security Report isn’t just numbers on a page. Created during the Clinton administration and published annually for 30 years throughout both Republican and Democratic administrations, this survey serves as the foundation for:
- Understanding which areas of our country are most affected
- Tracking whether our interventions are working
- Advocating for policies and resources at federal, state, and local levels
- Helping organizations like ours allocate limited resources where they’re needed most
In Howard County, we are lucky to have organizations who are collecting data on hunger and food insecurity—including the Alice report from United Way of Central Maryland, the Howard County Health Assessment Survey, and the Howard County Food Council—which allow us to prioritize the lives of people and families over politics. However, these efforts operate with smaller scopes and varying methodologies, which means organizations like ours are piecing together information rather than referencing a single, consistent, comprehensive framework.
This makes it significantly more challenging to understand whether our interventions are working and where resources are most needed. And, it limits our ability to make meaningful comparisons and trend analysis over time. We must also recognize that while these Howard County organizations are not afraid to confront the truth of hunger in our communities, other counties and States around the country may not have access to the same quality of data or collaborative approach to solving problems.
The Broader Context
This decision comes alongside significant policy changes, including expanded work requirements for SNAP that are estimated to affect 2.4 million Americans. At a time when food costs continue to rise and many families are struggling financially, eliminating our primary tool for measuring food insecurity seems counterproductive.
Effective leadership requires facing difficult realities, not avoiding them. If the data shows concerning trends, that should prompt action to address underlying causes—whether through job creation, wage policies, healthcare access, or strengthening food assistance programs. Eliminating the measurement doesn’t eliminate the problem; it simply makes it harder to address effectively.
Moving Forward: Our Commitment Remains Strong
This decision strengthens our resolve at Columbia Community Care to expand our local data collection efforts and community outreach. While we may lose this valuable national perspective, we remain committed to understanding and addressing food insecurity in our community through evidence-based approaches.
We will continue working with local partners to track needs, measure our impact, and advocate for policies that address the root causes of hunger. This includes supporting living wages, affordable healthcare, and robust food assistance programs that help families achieve stability.
The work continues because the need continues, regardless of whether it’s being measured at the federal level. Food insecurity is fundamentally about ensuring all community members can access the nutrition they need for healthy, productive lives. This remains a moral imperative and a practical necessity for strong communities.
