WASHINGTON (January 22, 2025) President Trump has set forth an ambitious political agenda, including funding for extending the 2017 tax cuts from his first term as well as other priorities. In response, the new Congress has proposed spending cuts, including important nutrition programs and safety nets such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additionally, related to global food security, the President signed an executive order on his first day in office that suspends all U.S. foreign development assistance – pending review – for 90 days, which includes international food security programs.
With approximately 47 million people (including almost 14 million children) in the U.S. who are food insecure, and over 760 million people experiencing hunger and malnutrition around the world, the Alliance to End Hunger opposes cuts and delays to food and nutrition programs.
A Worrying Trend in the U.S.
According to the latest USDA Household Food Security report, food insecurity in the United States has been getting worse, not better. In 2023 rates of food insecurity, especially households with children, spiked to the highest levels in nearly a decade. Bolstered support for federal nutrition programs is an essential response.
In 2023, SNAP boosted 3.4 million people above the poverty line. With the exceptions of Social Security and certain refundable tax credits, no federal program is more effective at alleviating poverty. SNAP is also proven to reduce food insecurity, lower health-care costs and improve education outcomes for children.
In 2024, SNAP helped to make food more affordable for up to 42 million people in the U.S., with an average benefit of about $6 a day or $2 per meal, per person. This program targets the neediest among us. The most recent USDA data shows most SNAP households lived at or below the poverty line (75 percent); had Social Security benefits as their most common source of income; and included either a child, an elderly individual, or a nonelderly individual with a disability (79 percent).
SNAP isn’t just critical for the individuals and families who participate directly; our entire nation benefits when Congress invests in SNAP. Since families use their SNAP benefits through regular channels of commerce, these dollars support the entire food supply chain, from farmers to retailers. USDA estimates that for every $1 billion increase in SNAP during economic downturns, gross domestic product increases by $1.54 billion and more than 13,000 jobs are supported nationwide. Additionally, from both household income and employment standpoints, rural areas see the largest gains.
Global Food Crisis Response
We are facing one of the largest global food crises in history. An estimated 205 million people need life-saving food assistance, and approximately 768 million people are facing chronic hunger around the world.
Global food security programs are critical to the lives of millions of people, both as emergency food aid and longer-term agriculture development. Investing in global food security helps to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities who are facing increased hunger and acute malnutrition due to a variety of factors, including conflicts, drought and floods.
Additionally, food aid and international agricultural development benefit the United States. Our international food aid and agricultural development programs not only support vulnerable communities worldwide but also serve as significant economic drivers for U.S. agriculture and innovation, strengthening the U.S. economy and national security. These programs play a vital role in providing economic benefits to farmers, producers, commodity groups, and shippers. In 2022 alone, USAID purchased and shipped over 1.8 million metric tons of food from the United States. Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative, has helped millions of families around the world lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. Feed the Future programming reached 33 million people in 2023. The Food for Peace program reached 53 million people with emergency food assistance in 21 countries and nearly 3 million people with resilience-building development assistance in 2022.
Overall, the human toll of cutting domestic and international food security programs during a time of heightened food insecurity in the U.S. and an unprecedented global food crisis would be devastating.
As the 119th Congress and the Trump Administration begin their work, we look forward to emphasizing the importance of these vital programs. We must not compromise the health and well-being of the most disadvantaged among us. By addressing people’s basic needs, our government upholds its sacred promise to those striving for a better future.
