The Trump administration is canceling an annual government effort to gather data on how many Americans struggle to get enough food

The Trump administration is ending the federal government’s annual report on food insecurity, calling it “redundant, costly and politicized” and dismissing it as “extraneous studies [that] do nothing more than fear monger.”

“For 30 years, this study — created by the Clinton administration to justify expanding SNAP eligibility and benefits — has offered nothing more than subjective, liberal fodder,” the Department of Agriculture said in a statement Saturday, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. “Food insecurity trends have remained essentially unchanged, even as SNAP spending rose more than 87% between 2019 and 2023.”

The Wall Street Journal first reported the decision. USDA said it will still publish one final edition — the 2024 hunger report — in October.

The move follows the passage of President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic agenda earlier this year, which included major cuts to SNAP. According to an August Congressional Budget Office analysis, about 2.4 million fewer people — including families with children — will receive benefits in an average month after lawmakers expanded work requirements for some parents, older adults, and other groups.

Those who remain eligible are also expected to see their monthly allotments reduced, even as grocery prices stay elevated and food banks struggle to meet rising demand.

In May, nearly 42 million people relied on food stamps, with an average monthly benefit of just over $188 per person, according to USDA data.

The most recent USDA report found that about 13.5% of U.S. households were food insecure at some point in 2023 — up from 12.8% in 2022 — a measure long used by policymakers to guide food assistance programs.