Tervuren, Belgium—The following opinion piece is authored by Thomas K. Murphy, a long-time Department of Defense civilian with significant experience, having worked on several U.S. military locations overseas. Based on his experience having observed thousands of U.S. troops, his opinion piece discusses the serious issue of food insecurity within today’s military. Tom is a Maryland UOCAVA voter, resident of Belgium, and member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus.
GOING HUNGRY: The Issue of Food in the Military Community
Food insecurity is a persistent concern within the U.S. military. Politicians regularly claim that “our service members deserve the best” that our government has to offer. Yet, policymakers and researchers alike need to understand better why so many of our troops – and their families – continue to struggle with hunger, paycheck after paycheck. The Pentagon cannot simply purchase cutting-edge weaponry to meet its “warrior ethos” mantra without addressing whether our military personnel are able to consume nutritious and affordable meals to meet its goal of top physical conditioning.
Earlier this year, the House Armed Services Committee held a subcommittee hearing on this issue, and the Ranking Member touched on some of the lingering issues military personnel still face when it comes to having healthy, affordable, and plentiful food options. The 2022 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) authorized the Secretary of Defense to study food insecurity within the military, which in turn redefined the issue. Food insecurity is now defined officially in several ways: 1) an anxiety towards access to adequate food, 2) the experience of lower quality and quantity consumptive habits, and 3) actual hunger and deprivation.
Significant research has suggested that military veterans and families experience food insecurity at rates significantly higher than the general American population. For example, survey results from a major U.S. military installation, released in 2021, found that nearly 33 percent of military households experienced moderate food insecurity. By comparison, the USDA reported that approximately 18 percent of U.S. civilian households were moderately food insecure in 2019. Another survey showed that, nationally, 14 percent of military respondents reported low or very low food security in 2020, compared to less than 11 percent of American non-military households.
By the same token, studies have shown that veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan show higher degrees of food insecurity than the general veteran population. Similarly, those who have recently separated display a high level of reliance on government food programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), indicating that recently transitioned veterans are at particular risk for food insecurity.
With unstable markets, increases in tariffs, and more, military families have also felt the sting of high grocery prices. As of 2025, grocery prices have climbed nearly 30% since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to federal data, and have risen by 0.6% between July and August 2025, constituting one of the most significant monthly increases in the past three years. Food prices in 2025 are high compared to those of years past, and this is particularly disturbing for low- and middle-income families. While produce prices have remained relatively stable, milk, eggs, and meat prices have surged in recent months.
Military commissaries play a large part in the food debate. Commissaries receive a direct governmental subsidy (approximately $1.45 billion in 2024) via the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), which manages the stores. These funds cover operational costs, including food procurement. An additional 5% surcharge is assessed on customer purchases for the procurement of technology and equipment. Commissaries typically charge 5% above the acquisition cost of the food product, and collect no sales tax.
DeCA is required to provide a savings rate of 23.7% for patrons against local stores and market average prices. However, in 2025, DeCA reported a whopping 36.2% savings rate for those living abroad (42.7% in 2021), but a paltry 17.7% savings for the domestic military customers in 2021. This may be explained at least in part by the differing measurements used by DeCA – meaning, in the U.S., DeCA calculates prices based on an average of seven regions over the U.S. Overseas, prices are tied to the host country's national and local cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). This means that the actual costs in local stores are not taken into account for overseas DeCA comparative prices. This can lead to significant price discrepancies between American and local economic prices.
Traditionally, commissaries were non-profit. Aside from a 5% charge that was used for facility upkeep, products were sold at cost. However, in 2017, DeCA adopted a variable pricing model in order to generate a profit margin and reduce public subsidies for DeCA. Since then, DeCA has struggled with the issue of providing affordable food prices all the while maintaining fiscal restraint. In an era of inflated food prices and food insecurity, this has put a tremendous strain on both the DeCA system and the military community. “Now isn’t the time to try to turn a profit, especially with the high inflation and (continuing COVID-related) supply chain issues,” said Kelly Hruska with the National Military Family Association.
However, it was recently announced that service members and their families might use their Military Star cards to provide some relief during the current government shutdown. Basically, the initiative, which was announced on October 6, allows for Military Star Card users to avoid interest charges and payments on purchases from military stores for three months.
Another recent report suggests that the Department of Defense has planned to sell off nearly 200 commissaries in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. Many decision-makers have considered these facilities to be in substandard condition, and the Defense Department has expressed interest in selling them in their current condition. The maintenance needs for these facilities are said to be as high as $2.5 billion. Private investors and various grocery chains have expressed interest in the initiative. But is selling off assets a logical solution? This accompanies an initiative by the White House to privatize many functions normally subsidized by the U.S. government, such as retail. Commissary representatives have told patrons to stock up as soon as possible.
Clearly, rising food prices and increasing food insecurity are issues that must be addressed at the national level. Military members and their families deserve to be provided with nutritious, healthy food options at affordable prices. How this will be negotiated in the current stalemate climate in Washington remains to be seen.
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The Global VMF Caucus, proudly consisting of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes, has a membership of over 1,400 members located in dozens of countries.
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