The United States has lifted its suspension on food donations to the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP), the organization confirmed, ending a halt that had stranded 500,000 metric tons of food either already at sea or awaiting shipment.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, WFP announced, “We can confirm that the recent pause concerning in-kind food assistance to WFP – purchased from U.S. farmers with Title II funds – has been rescinded. This allows for the resumption of food purchases and deliveries under existing USAID agreements.”
The suspension began after former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid in 2019, directing a review to align contributions with his “America First” foreign policy. Despite a waiver for emergency food assistance, purchases of U.S. commodities for donation were halted.
The U.S. also directed WFP to cease work on numerous U.S.-funded grants. These instructions came five days after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had granted the emergency food assistance waiver.
Many of the suspended grants were part of the Food for Peace Title II program, which allocates approximately $2 billion annually to donate U.S. commodities worldwide. The program, primarily managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), constitutes the majority of U.S. international food aid.
The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The halted USAID grants, worth tens of millions of dollars, supported food aid efforts in countries including Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Haiti, and Mali.
Humanitarian officials have criticized the Trump administration’s approach to foreign aid, citing confusion and uncertainty about program continuity. They faced the difficult decision of whether to continue operations without clarity on whether they would be covered by the waiver.
A report by the USAID Office of Inspector General, released Monday, revealed the extent of the disruption. The report stated that over $489 million worth of food assistance was at risk due to the suspension, with more than 500,000 metric tons of food stranded at ports or en route.
“The uncertainty put these commodities in limbo, leaving them vulnerable to spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and potential diversion,” the report noted.
The lifting of the pause is expected to restore vital food assistance to millions of people in dire need worldwide.
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