Trump Administration Cuts SNAP Benefits and Cancels Hunger Surveys

The United States government began implementing the largest cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in history on October 1, 2025, via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation eliminates funding for Snap-Ed and shifts administrative costs to state governments. Estimates regarding the impact vary, with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projecting 4 million Americans will lose some or all benefits, while other projections suggest as many as 3 million adults will lose benefits due to new work requirements.

Simultaneously, the United States Department of Agriculture cancelled the annual Household Food Security Report, a survey used for over three decades to track domestic hunger. The agency placed food researchers on leave and characterized the reports as redundant and politicized. The Alliance to End Hunger argued that cancelling the survey signals that battling hunger is no longer a priority and suggests the move is intended to hide the impact of spending cuts.

These actions are part of a broader effort by the administration of Donald Trump to eliminate federal data and oversight. Similar measures include the Department of Justice removing hate crime statistics, the Environmental Protection Agency ending industrial emissions tracking, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deleting documents related to COVID, HIV/AIDS, and gun violence.