WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is terminating the federal government’s annual report on hunger in America, asserting that it has become 'overly politicized' and 'rife with inaccuracies.' This decision comes two and a half months after President Donald Trump signed legislation that sharply reduced food assistance to low-income families. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the tax and spending cuts bill pushed through Congress in July would disqualify approximately 3 million individuals from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The USDA confirmed the discontinuation of the Household Food Security Report in a press release on Saturday, stating that the anticipated 2024 report, scheduled to be released on October 22, would be the last. 'The data questions used to collect information are entirely subjective and fail to portray an accurate representation of food security,' the USDA claimed. They also indicated that the current economic climate has seen a reduction in poverty rates, rising wages, and increased job growth under the Trump Administration.
Adding fuel to the criticism, the Census Bureau noted earlier this month that the U.S. poverty rate had dropped from 11% in 2023 to 10.6% last year, prior to Trump taking office.
Critics were quick to accuse the administration of intentionally complicating the assessment of hunger and the repercussions of its reductions to food stamp programs. Bobby Kogan, from the progressive Center for American Progress, criticized the move, stating, 'Trump is cancelling an annual government survey that measures hunger in America, rather than allowing it to show hunger increasing under his tenure.'
The USDA confirmed the discontinuation of the Household Food Security Report in a press release on Saturday, stating that the anticipated 2024 report, scheduled to be released on October 22, would be the last. 'The data questions used to collect information are entirely subjective and fail to portray an accurate representation of food security,' the USDA claimed. They also indicated that the current economic climate has seen a reduction in poverty rates, rising wages, and increased job growth under the Trump Administration.
Adding fuel to the criticism, the Census Bureau noted earlier this month that the U.S. poverty rate had dropped from 11% in 2023 to 10.6% last year, prior to Trump taking office.
Critics were quick to accuse the administration of intentionally complicating the assessment of hunger and the repercussions of its reductions to food stamp programs. Bobby Kogan, from the progressive Center for American Progress, criticized the move, stating, 'Trump is cancelling an annual government survey that measures hunger in America, rather than allowing it to show hunger increasing under his tenure.'
