The federal government spends billions of dollars every year on domestic food assistance (FA) programs. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture administers most of these programs and monitors the prevalence of food insecurity -- that is, the percentage of U.S. households that were unable to afford enough food sometime during the year. Other federal agencies also fund FA programs; however, comprehensive and consolidated information on the multiple programs is not readily available. This report examines: (1) the prevalence of food insecurity in the U.S.; (2) spending on FA programs; (3) what is known about the effectiveness of these programs in meeting program goals; and (4) the implications of providing FA through multiple programs and agencies. Illus.