Bipartisan Bill Aims to Address Military Food Security

Strategic Insights -

As the United States military struggles with budget cuts, outdated housing allowances, and increasingly high grocery costs, a bipartisan bill is being reintroduced to alleviate food insecurity among its members. The Military Food Security Act of 2025 seeks to grant military families better access to affordable and healthy food by adjusting the income calculation used to determine eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Military Food Security Act aims to address the issue of food insecurity among military families, affecting nearly 26% of U.S. military personnel, as reported by the Pentagon in 2023.
  • The bill would exclude the Basic Allowance for Housing from income calculations used to determine eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance, removing an unintended barrier that prevents some military families from qualifying for food assistance.
  • The bipartisan legislation is reintroduced by Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Josh Riley (D-NY), alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
  • According to the Pentagon, 24% of all active-duty servicemembers, or approximately 286,800 personnel, experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021.
  • The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the RAND Corporation found that 25.8% of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were experiencing food insecurity.

Statistics:

  • 26% of U.S. military personnel experienced food insecurity in 2023, as reported by the Pentagon.
  • 24% of all active-duty servicemembers, or approximately 286,800 personnel, experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021.
  • 25.8% of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were experiencing food insecurity, according to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the RAND Corporation.

Sources:

  • The Office of Representative Blake Moore
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal
  • The Pentagon
  • The Office of the Secretary of Defense
  • The RAND Corporation
  • Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
  • Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
  • Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
  • Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
  • Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA)
  • Rep. Josh Riley (D-NY)