What does the Food and Nutrition Service do?

Updates published annually

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is a subdivision of the US Department of Agriculture responsible for administering the nation’s domestic nutrition assistance programs. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The agency aims to provide children and low-income individuals access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education. It was established in 1969.

In FY 2024,

$147B

was spent by the Food and Nutrition Service

In FY 2024,

72.5%

of Dept. of Agriculture spending was by the Food and Nutrition Service

How much does the Food and Nutrition Service spend?

The Food and Nutrition Service spent a net total of $147.4 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 72.5% of the $203.4 billion spent by the Department of Agriculture, which itself was 3% of all federal spending. The FNS ranked first among USDA subdivisions in net spending.

Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.

The Food and Nutrition Service ranked first among Department of Agriculture divisions in net spending in 2024.

USDA net spending by division, FY 2024

Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Food and Nutrition Service’s federal spending has increased from $52.8 billion in 1980 to $147.4 billion in 2024.

The Food and Nutrition Service’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by FNS, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Food and Nutrition Service's spending has increased 179.3%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.

As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. FNS spending grew less than overall federal spending since 1980, which means that its share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, FNS accounted for 2.2% of overall federal spending.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Food and Nutrition Service’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Net spending by FNS as a share of federal spending, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, the Food and Nutrition Service transferred 33.2% of its total spending to states and local governments.

The chart below outlines all net FNS spending.

How did the Food and Nutrition Service spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to FNS, FY 2024

How many people work for the Food and Nutrition Service?

Some 1,780 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Food and Nutrition Service as of September 2024. This is 25.4% more people than the division staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Food and Nutrition Service has increased 25.4% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for FNS, September 2010–2024

The Food and Nutrition Service accounts for 0.077% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a larger share of the overall federal workforce in 2024 compared to 2010 (0.067%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Food and Nutrition Service's share of the workforce (0.077%) is smaller than its share of the budget (2.2%).

Who leads the Food and Nutrition Service?

The FNS is led by an administrator. This individual is appointed by the president of the United States and does not require Senate confirmation. The FNS administrator reports to the Secretary of Agriculture. There is no fixed term for this position.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement