Food insecurity and federal nutrition policy: Administrative change and safety net strain

Food insecurity in the United States has intensified as rising food prices, the end of COVID-19–era supports, and new federal policies have tightened SNAP eligibility. We explore the mechanisms underpinning the shift of administrative and financial burdens from federal to state and local governments. Particular attention is given to groups disproportionately affected, including the working poor, college students, single mothers, people with disabilities, and rural households. By decentralizing responsibility, these structural changes risk exacerbating regional disparities and straining the community resources tasked with supporting a fraying safety net.