This keynote address will describe how USDA is advancing nutrition security through the Federal Nutrition Safety Net with an emphasis on key streams of research which can help inform policy. Dr. Bleich will first provide an overview of the variety of actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to prioritize nutrition security during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is, spending on USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs jumped 30 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2020 to a record $122.1 billion. This included USDA waivers allowing flexibility in the administration of USDA’s 15 existing food and nutrition assistance programs and the creation of programs, including Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT, money for missed meals due to school closures). In FY 2021, USDA expenditures on federal nutrition assistance programs was further expanded through the American Rescue Plan, which extended SNAP, increased access to fruits and vegetables for each WIC participant, extended and expanded P-EBT, added new funding for US territories, and provided funding for meals for young adults experiencing homelessness. USDA also revised the Thrifty Food Plan – the basis for determining SNAP benefit amount – to better reflect the cost of a healthy basic diet. Taken together, the USDA is taking critical steps to ensure access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities to assist with pandemic recovery and beyond. Throughout the presentation, Dr. Bleich will integrate key ways behavioral change science has informed USDA’s actions to date and put forth recommendations for how behavioral change science can help the USDA further advance nutrition security through the Federal Nutrition Safety Net.