WASHINGTON (March 5, 2026) The Alliance to End Hunger is disappointed that food and nutrition security were not prioritized in the markup of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (“the Farm Bill”). While offering limited positive policies, the bill fails to rectify damage caused by last year’s massive tax and spending bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and does not advance the U.S. as a global leader in food security and agricultural development.
Overall, the Farm Bill legislation will make it harder to achieve key Alliance to End Hunger priorities, including “restoring and strengthening SNAP and federal nutrition programs” and “ensuring the Farm Bill addresses the needs of food insecure communities.” Following the harmful provisions of H.R. 1, this legislation will do nothing to alleviate the strain on state and local governments working to administer SNAP benefits to participants effectively and with integrity. Further, the bill maintains burdensome work and paperwork requirements for individuals and families in need of food assistance including veterans, former foster youth, and people experiencing homelessness.
Globally, the legislation passes on an opportunity to enable global food security programs to operate in the most efficient and effective way possible – restricting Food for Peace nonemergency programming and failing to build on and strengthen emergency response programs like the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust and Food for Peace emergency programs.
The Farm Bill legislation does include policies that our members support, including making online SNAP purchasing permanent and funding a Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) home delivery pilot program for seniors in rural areas and on tribal lands. The bill would also add limited flexibility to the global McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program to purchase foods regionally. Further, support for agricultural production will positively impact rural communities that are increasingly feeling the brunt of economic hardship, and are key to providing economic and food security support across the country.
Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger stated the following: “Food insecurity remains stubbornly high in the United States, and global challenges are posing severe risks of famine abroad. Over the years, the Farm Bill has offered an opportunity to build linkages between the invaluable work that our farmers do with our nation’s and world’s need for reliable food security. Unfortunately, this Farm Bill is deteriorating that relationship to the detriment of both producers and those in need of food assistance. We urge Congress to ensure that food and nutrition security as well as agriculture are made priorities in this and all future Farm Bills.”
