The Trump administration has canceled the USDA’s annual survey that measures food insecurity, ending a data collection effort that has taken place since the mid-1990s. USDA officials confirmed the 2025 survey will not be funded, though the 2024 report is still scheduled for release in October.

The decision has sparked backlash from USDA employees and outside economists, who say the data has been vital for shaping food assistance policies, especially as food insecurity has risen due to inflation and the end of pandemic aid.

“For the past 30 years, the USDA food insecurity measure has provided insight into the extent that American families have been able to cover their food needs,” says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs. “Not having this measure for 2025 is particularly troubling given the current rise in inflation and deterioration of labor market conditions, two conditions known to increase food insecurity.”

Read more in the Wall Street Journal article, “Trump Administration Cancels Annual Hunger Survey.”