Food insecurity among American adults has nearly doubled since 2021, Axios reported on Sunday, citing data from Morning Consult. The striking statistic comes amid steep cuts to federal food assistance programs in the world’s largest economy, fueling concerns about the welfare of millions.
US President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” signed into law last week includes $230 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. The legislation imposes stricter work requirements, extending mandates to individuals up to age 64 and reducing exemptions for parents.
The proportion of US adults reporting that they sometimes or often do not have enough to eat has been steadily rising in recent years, according to the survey.
In May, 15.6% of adults were classified as food insecure, nearly twice the rate recorded in 2021. At that time, expanded SNAP benefits and an enhanced Child Tax Credit had helped reduce poverty and increase access to food.
The increase in food insecurity comes as the US economy shows signs of strength and stock markets hit record highs.
John Leer, chief economist at Morning Consult, noted a problem: “There’s such a disconnect now between record highs on Wall Street and elevated levels of food insecurity.”
In Philadelphia, the Share Food Program, a major food bank network, has reported a 120% increase in demand over the past three years. “As soon as the government support pulled back in 2022, we started to see the numbers go up,” the outlet quoted Executive Director George Matysik as saying.
The situation is likely to worsen following the recent passage of sweeping cuts to the SNAP by Congress requiring states to increase funding and imposes stricter work requirements for recipients.
Critics say the changes could strip benefits from millions or reduce the amount of aid they receive. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that expanded work requirements could remove food assistance from 3.2 million people in an average month, the outlet noted.
Food banks across the country are reportedly bracing for increased demand as the cuts take effect, the outlet said. Many organizations are already struggling to meet their current needs, and the anticipated rise in food insecurity is expected to strain resources further.
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