Academy Sounds Alarm on USDA Reorganization: Critical Nutrition Programs at Risk

July 28, 2025

CHICAGO — The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, sent a formal letter Friday to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins expressing concerns over USDA's sweeping reorganization and its omission of the importance of core food and nutrition services.

Key resources such as MyPlate.gov, FoodData Central, and Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR), could be at risk as the Department plans to close and relocate USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

"These resources are the very foundation of our nation's nutrition policy and public health strategy. Stripping them of visibility or support in a reorganization of this scale is not just an oversight. It risks unraveling decades of progress in preventing chronic disease, promoting nutrition security and guiding Americans toward healthier lives," said Deanne Brandstetter, MBA, RDN, CDN, FAND, President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "The USDA's silence is a step backward for public health in this country. We urge the Department to act swiftly to reaffirm its commitment to these essential, science-based resources before lasting damage is done."

In the letter, the Academy formally requested a meeting with Secretary Rollins to seek clarity on the future of these services, to emphasize the importance of upholding nutrition as a core pillar of USDA's mission, and to share the Academy’s priorities and perspective on the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service mission. The Academy also called on USDA leadership to publicly recognize the integral role these programs play in supporting healthy communities, informing nutrition policy and sustaining the link between agriculture and public health.

"As you continue shaping policies that impact the health of our nation, we believe the expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) should be actively incorporated into these discussions," the letter states. “We are requesting additional information to understand what the changes announced yesterday mean for [USDA's] resources and the whole of our federally funded nutrition infrastructure."

"These decisions affect every American family, and they should be driven by science, transparency and the betterment of public health," Brandstetter added. "Our members, RDNs and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered, stand ready to collaborate with USDA to ensure that evidence-based nutrition guidance remains a national priority."

Read the letter

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About the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, representing more than 112,000 credentialed practitioners. The Academy is committed to advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education, and advocacy, and to improving the health of individuals and communities across the country.