Pandemic-Related Program Changes Continued to Shape the U.S. Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape in Fiscal Year 2021

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to an economic downturn and rising unemployment in fiscal year (FY) 2020 (October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020), resulting in an increased need for food and nutrition assistance. In response, the U.S. Government expanded USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs, adjusted program operations, and created additional, temporary programs. Throughout FY 2021 (October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021), the Government continued to develop its food and nutrition assistance policy as the pandemic and its impacts persisted. Accordingly, annual USDA food and nutrition assistance spending nearly doubled from $92.5 billion in FY 2019 to a record $182.5 billion in FY 2021.