The Food Security Supplement (FSS) is a critical dataset. It provides the only nationally representative measure of household food insecurity, guiding policymakers, advocates, and researchers in shaping effective anti-hunger strategies. Yet, the future of this dataset is at risk. Decisions made in the coming months could determine whether this vital tool remains available to track food security and inform solutions. The data are collected through a supplement to the Current Population Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and sponsored by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). On September 20, 2025, USDA announced the termination of this critical resource.
If you missed our rapid-response webinar, you can check out the recording to learn:
- What’s in the FSS and how it's used.
- Why the FSS matters for hunger and nutrition policy.
- What’s at risk if the data stops flowing.
- How you can take action to protect this critical public resource.
Panelists:
Ronette Briefel, DrPH — Senior Fellow (Retired), Mathematica
Gina Plata-Nino, JD — Interim SNAP Director, Food Research & Action Center
Allison Hard — Director of Public Policy, National WIC Association
Melanie Klein — Data Scientist, dataindex.us
Meghan Maury — former Senior Advisor for Data Policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Cohosts:
Association of Public Data Users (APDU)
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
Population Reference Bureau (PRB)