Uncertainty Surrounds Food for Peace Program Cuts
The U.S. government is making significant changes to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced that 83% of USAID’s programs will be cut. This comes after a thorough six-week review.
However, it’s uncertain if the Food for Peace program is among those that will be eliminated. Rubio explained that the canceled contracts, which number over 5,200, wasted billions and sometimes conflicted with U.S. interests. He stated that only 18% of the programs, approximately 1,000, will remain and be managed more effectively under the State Department.
Rubio expressed gratitude towards the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its staff for their hard work in making these changes. In a post, Elon Musk, leader of DOGE, labeled the cuts as “tough but necessary,” emphasizing that important parts of USAID should align with the State Department.
Food for Peace Program
In February, several lawmakers proposed a bill to transfer the Food for Peace program from USAID to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This move received backing from groups like the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates. However, it remains unclear whether Food for Peace will be reassigned to the USDA, kept under the State Department, or face cuts altogether.
Steve Mercer, vice president of communications for U.S. Wheat, voiced confusion over the future of Food for Peace. “We couldn’t answer that question with such limited information,” he stated.
Capital Press has reached out to the State Department for further clarification.
