How Recent Policy Changes Are Deepening Hunger and Environmental Crises

Even before Donald Trump regained the presidency, the U.S. food system faced a paradox: overproduction of major crops like corn and soy, which harms the environment, alongside persistently high hunger rates, especially among children. The latest legislative overhaul, dubbed the Big Beautiful Bill, continues and amplifies these issues by reshaping farm and food aid policies.

This law significantly reduces food assistance for low-income Americans while increasing subsidies for large-scale farmers. Traditionally funded through a bipartisan farm bill, these programs have historically balanced farm subsidies with food aid. However, by bypassing this process and integrating key programs into the new bill, the coalition that maintained this balance has fractured. The result: fewer resources for those in need and increased support for corporate agribusiness.

Critics condemn the move as a “smash and grab” of anti-poverty funds, redirecting resources from food assistance to farm subsidies. Under the legislation, SNAP, the nation’s primary food aid program, faces a 20% cut over ten years, amounting to $185.9 billion. These cuts will likely eliminate aid for over 2 million individuals, including veterans, the homeless, and foster youth. Additionally, work requirements and state cost-sharing will create barriers, risking further reductions in access to food assistance.

The cuts come at a time when food insecurity is rising anew, after a period of decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food prices have surged more than 25% since 2020, straining low-income families’ budgets. Meanwhile, healthcare cuts further diminish economic resources, making it harder to afford nutritious food.

Self-described “big winners” in the legislation are large commodity farmers in the Midwest, who will receive billions more in incentives. This increased support encourages maximizing crop production, exacerbating soil erosion, water pollution, and climate change effects—while predominantly producing feed and fuel rather than nutritious food. Ultimately, these policies are likely to worsen diet-related health issues among Americans, as cheap, highly processed foods become more accessible.

The legislation reflects a shift in farm policy, favoring corporate interests over public health and sustainable environmental practices, threatening to deepen existing crises of hunger and ecological degradation.