Dear Friends,
As we wind down 2025 we are closing out one of the most tumultuous years in memory for anti-hunger programs and those who rely on them. In just over 11 months we have seen the dissolution of USAID, the stoppage of lifesaving aid and development programming, deep personnel cuts to critical agencies and departments that deal with both global and domestic food security issues, a budget bill that fundamentally alters the effectiveness of federal nutrition programs, the cessation of annual U.S. food security reporting, and a government shutdown that not only threw food insecure people and families into unnecessary stress and uncertainty, but also ushered in renewed questioning of the legitimacy of people living through difficult circumstances.
Our work has never been more crucial; and despite the hardships we faced over the past year, the Alliance to End Hunger has witnessed the impact and change that we can drive with our dedicated coalition.
- At a time when federal nutrition programs suffered setbacks, the Alliance and our partners were able to ensure continued support for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), as well as secure additional bipartisan support for the MODERN WIC Act.
- During the recent government shutdown people and families who rely on SNAP were faced with the unnecessary stress and burden of delays to their benefits. Determined advocacy efforts from our community ensured that funds were restarted quicker than USDA had originally intended.
- Following the closure of USAID, the Alliance has continued to play a leading role in advocating for and protecting food aid programs, including defending Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program against attempts to defund them. As debates continue on Capitol Hill regarding the future administration of these programs, including proposals to move Food for Peace to USDA, the Alliance has maintained its standing as a trusted and respected voice.
The importance of the Alliance was also demonstrated beyond the Capital Beltway. Our Hunger Free Communities Network has grown to 75 groups across 34 states. These local coalitions and initiatives have been leading the way on ending hunger in rural towns, major metropolitan areas, Native American reservations, and other communities across the country. The Alliance has been engaging with these groups through regional convenings – most recently in Birmingham, AL and Phoenix, AZ. We were able to support five HFC’s through small grants of $10,000 each to help them implement innovative and impactful programs. As we do every year, we capped a great year of collaboration and learning with the HFC Network through our 2025 Hunger Free Communities Virtual Summit.
Across all of this work, one trend has been unmistakable: hunger is increasingly visible. Interruptions to global food aid, fundamental changes to federal nutrition programs, disruptions caused by the government shutdown, and countless stories from food banks and Hunger Free Communities have underscored a simple and sobering reality—people experiencing hunger are facing heightened stress and uncertainty. At the same time, there is growing recognition of the deep connections between hunger and many of the most pressing issues shaping national debate, including immigration, health care, housing, foreign policy, security, trade, and economic stability.
Looking ahead, 2026 is already shaping up to be a contentious year. SNAP and its participants will remain under undue scrutiny; acute food insecurity, malnutrition, and famine will continue to threaten communities around the world; and the interconnected challenges we face will be intensified by a polarized political environment heading into the midterm elections. Our responsibility will be to ensure that hunger remains a priority for Congress and the Administration, and for candidates and voters alike.
As I close, I want to offer my sincere thanks to our members, supporters, and partners. Thank you for your resilience, your passion, and your advocacy. In 2025, all of us have had to pivot, persuade, and proceed to ensure that the people we serve—and stand alongside—have enough to feed themselves and their families. I am honored to be part of this community, and together, we will end hunger.
With Gratitude,
Eric Mitchell
President
