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Food assistance groups warn of dire consequences from cuts to Food Security Survey

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  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 1:03 GMT by ABC Kcrg 9
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Food‑Assistance Groups Warn Dire Consequences of Cuts to Food‑Security Survey

By [Journalist Name]
September 23, 2025 – KCRG

On Thursday, a coalition of food‑assistance advocates staged a press briefing at the KCRG studio to confront a looming threat to one of the nation’s most reliable gauges of hunger: the USDA’s Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). The groups—ranging from local food banks to national hunger‑policy think tanks—warned that proposed budget cuts would cripple the survey’s reach, diminish the data that informs federal assistance programs, and leave millions of low‑income families in the dark.

The Survey That Keeps Food Insecurity in the Crosshairs

The HFSSM, conducted every two years by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), asks 18 questions about a household’s food access and quality. The data is the backbone of policy decisions that shape programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the National School Lunch Program. “This is the science that tells us how many people are missing meals, where the gaps are, and what kind of assistance is needed,” said Karen Li, executive director of the Food Assistance Network of Minnesota, who spoke from the kitchen of a community pantry.

According to the ERS, the last 2023 survey found that nearly 9.5 million American households—about 14% of the population—experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months. The survey also revealed stark regional disparities: the Midwest and South reported higher rates than the West, and households headed by single parents were most at risk. The data feed into the Department of Agriculture’s annual “Food Security Report,” which in turn informs Congressional oversight and budget allocations.

A Budget Proposal That Threatens the Survey’s Future

The Department of Agriculture’s 2025 budget request, unveiled last week, proposes a $1.3 million cut to the HFSSM—about a 12% reduction in the program’s current $10.7 million budget. The cut is slated to slash the survey’s geographic coverage from all 50 states down to just 30, with a further cut in the number of households surveyed in each state. “You’re taking the very tool that lets us see who needs help and giving it a hole,” Li said.

The budget committee chair, Rep. Mark Hargrove (R‑TX), defended the measure as a cost‑saving strategy that would “reallocate resources to direct assistance.” He pointed to the “expanded online data collection” the USDA plans to use to cut costs. Critics, however, argue that the online approach excludes rural households with limited internet access and will skew results.

Voices from the Front Lines

Local food‑bank director Miguel Sanchez of the Twin Cities Food Rescue Center said the proposed cut would erode the ability of the organization to demonstrate need to state legislators. “We rely on USDA data to show that we’re still falling short of our goals,” Sanchez told the crowd. “If the survey shrinks, it’s like looking at a partial map. We won’t know where the biggest needs are.”

A spokesperson for Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks, echoed Sanchez’s concerns. “The HFSSM data is critical for our advocacy work,” the representative said. “It’s the evidence that backs up our funding requests and the policy changes we lobby for. A cut would not just be a financial loss; it would be a loss of visibility for millions of families.”

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, which administers state‑level food‑assistance programs, expressed uncertainty. “We’ve been working with USDA data for decades,” said Dr. Elaine McDonald, director of the state’s nutrition program. “We’re looking into alternative data sources, but nothing can replace the rigor and comparability that the HFSSM offers.”

Why the Survey Matters More Than Ever

The timing of the proposed cut could not be more ominous. The country has just emerged from a 2023 surge in inflation that pushed the cost of groceries up by 7% year‑over‑year, and the recent recession has increased the unemployment rate to 4.3%. “When the economy is in flux, you need the most accurate, real‑time data to respond,” said Li. “Without it, policy makers could miss emerging pockets of hunger or misallocate resources.”

Moreover, the HFSSM’s data is increasingly being used in the design of emergency response measures. In the wake of the 2025 Midwest drought, for example, the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) relies on the survey’s granular data to determine which counties need additional supplies. “We’ve seen the HFSSM in action when the drought hit,” Sanchez recalled. “It saved us from a misstep.”

The Road Ahead

During the briefing, representatives from the groups proposed a multi‑pronged strategy to counter the proposed budget cut. They urged Congress to:

1. Reinstate full funding for the HFSSM and expand its coverage to all 50 states.
2. Invest in technology that ensures data collection remains accessible to low‑income and rural households.
3. Increase transparency in how the data informs program funding decisions.

The groups also pledged to mobilize their networks—food banks, community organizations, and faith‑based groups—to lobby legislators, write op‑eds, and conduct public information campaigns. “It’s a fight for data, and it’s a fight for our neighbors,” Li concluded.

The debate over the HFSSM is set to continue in the House Appropriations Committee next week. Meanwhile, the coalition’s press conference has already sparked a flurry of responses: a call‑out on Twitter from @FoodInsecure that the data is “essential for policy,” a letter from the American Hunger Coalition urging the President to “protect the survey.” Whether the USDA will reverse its proposed cut remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the food‑assistance community has decided that the survey is too vital to let slip through the cracks.