According to a New York Federal Reserve report, food insecurity in the United States has worsened beyond levels seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis attributes the alarming increase to Republican cuts to federal nutrition assistance and President Donald Trump's inflationary economic and foreign policy decisions, according to the New York Fed. More Americans now report receiving food donations and skipping meals as prices for basic necessities climb, the report says.

Why the New York Fed's Attribution to Policy Cuts Is Unusual

The New York Fed's report is notable for directly tying the rise in hunger to specific policy choices—Republican cuts to nutrition programs and Trump's trade and economic actions. This is a departure from typical Fed analyses,which often avoid such explicit political attribution. The data shows a contemporaneous rise in pessimism among low-income households and a sharp decline in job-finding expectations, according to the report.

The Bottom 50%: Incomes Down 1.6% Year-over-Year

Household incomes for the bottom half of earners have fallen in five of the last six months, dropping 1.6% compared to April of the previous year, the New York Fed reported. This group is also seeing personal savings rates plummet as inflation erodes paychecks. The report highlights that families with young children are particularly vulnerable, with more households now relying on food donations to get by.

What the Report Doesn't Tell Us: Regional and Racial Gaps in Food Insecurity

The New York Fed analysis does not break down food insecurity by geography or race, leaving open questions about whether certain regions or minority communities are disproportionately affected. It also does not specify how much of the increase is directly attributable to policy cuts versus broader inflationary pressures.. Long-term health consequences for children in food-insecure households remain unaddressed in the data .

A Hunger Crisis Worse Than COVID-19 Peak — in a Non-Recession Economy

Food insecurity traditionally spikes during economic downturns, but the current levels exceeding pandemic highs are unusual given that the economy is not officially in a recession. Previous crises, such as the 2008 financial crisis, saw similar declies in household income but at a slower pace. The New York Fed's analysis, released amid a flurry of data showing falling incomes and savings, underscores that for low-income Americans, the economic pain is already deeper than the last two national emergencies.