The Trump administration’s efforts to slash and reshape U.S. foreign aid are crippling the intricate global system aimed at preventing and responding to famine.
Even before U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House, the international famine monitoring and relief system was struggling to manage hunger crises in the developing world. The sudden cessation of U.S. foreign aid has dealt a serious blow to this system.
The spending freeze, which Trump ordered upon taking office on January 20, is supposed to last 90 days while his administration reviews all foreign-aid programs. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that an exception allows emergency food assistance to continue, but much of that emergency aid is at least temporarily halted as humanitarian organizations await clarification on what relief programs are permitted to proceed.
One of the most significant blows to the system is the recent move to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the government’s top relief provider. About 500,000 metric tonnes of food worth $340 million is stuck in transit or storage, as humanitarian organizations wait for approval from the U.S. State Department to distribute it.
Furthermore, U.S.-provided cash assistance, designed to help people buy food and other necessities in crisis areas like Sudan and Gaza, has also been halted. Humanitarian organizations are facing roadblocks in getting paid for emergency food operations, and questions regarding which programs can continue remain unanswered because USAID staff have been placed on leave.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a crucial entity that produces regular food security alerts to prevent famine, has also been shut down. This leaves aid organizations without vital guidance on where and how to deploy relief.
The U.S. government’s halt to two major manufacturers of nutritional supplements has further diminished the supply of life-saving food for severely malnourished children.
Conflict and instability are pushing millions into hunger, and the U.S. has been the largest single donor of aid, providing $64.6 billion in humanitarian assistance over the past five years. However, the halt in U.S. aid exacerbates the crisis, impairing both preventative programs and immediate responses to hunger.
Almost 30,000 metric tonnes of food, meant to feed malnourished children and adults in famine-stricken Sudan, are stuck in warehouses, with some at risk of spoiling due to the freeze in aid.
The suspension of FEWS NET is particularly damaging to global efforts to predict and prevent food insecurity crises. This network, which has been essential in assessing food insecurity in the world’s most hunger-affected regions, is vital for providing early warnings and strategic analysis. Without it, there will be significant setbacks in combating global hunger.
In short, the closure of FEWS NET and the halt in U.S. aid will likely accelerate the return of famine in parts of the world, especially as political conflicts and war continue to use hunger as a tool.
