Hunger in America

More than 40 million Americans need government help to keep from going hungry, and some 6 million households lack adequate food or nutrition at least occasionally. While hunger has abated since the 2007–09 recession, advocates for the poor say the federal government still needs to do much more to provide food aid and access to healthy food for the needy. But many conservatives say food-aid programs are rife with waste and fraud and need major reforms. They want to stiffen work requirements for able-bodied recipients, and some conservatives and liberals argue that food stamps should not be used to buy junk foods lacking in nutritional value. President Trump wants to slash federal spending on food aid and scientific research into nutrition. But some of his budget proposals — described as draconian by critics — face an uphill battle in Congress. Advocates for the poor, meanwhile, are expanding innovative programs that bring healthy foods to low-income areas, and celebrity chefs are joining the fight against hunger.