On the USDA Ending the Annual Food Security Report

A Statement from Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC CEO Eric Aft

Data is more than numbers on a page. It’s how we see the real struggles and strengths of families and communities, and how we hold ourselves accountable to building a more food-secure future.

For nearly three decades, the USDA’s annual Household Food Security Report has been a trusted, nonpartisan source of information about hunger in America. Communities like ours, advocates across the country, researchers, and policymakers have relied on this data to measure progress, identify challenges, and design effective responses.

Ending this report at a time when families are facing rising costs and recent cuts to food assistance programs removes a vital lens on reality. Without it, it becomes harder to know who is struggling, where the need is greatest, and how policy changes are affecting the lives of our neighbors.

If alternative data sources are to be used, they must be timely, transparent, and detailed enough to give us the same clarity — or better. Our communities deserve nothing less.

At Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, we see the faces behind the statistics every day. We know that hunger is real, and that solutions require not only food and compassion but also accurate information.

We call on USDA to ensure that comprehensive, accessible food security data remains available to the public, because data is not politics — it is accountability, and it is a lifeline for communities working toward a stronger, healthier, hunger-free future.