Trapped in Crypto: 3 Million Children’s Emergency Food Aid Caught in DOGE Delay

Elon Musk made headlines recently when he offered to rectify a mistake involving DOGE’s drastic cuts to foreign aid. But while that unfolded, the Trump administration escalated its decision to halt emergency food aid for millions of starving children in countries like Bangladesh and Somalia. Experts warn that without immediate help, many of these vulnerable kids could face life-threatening situations.

In February, as DOGE cut back on USAID funding, the global health community grew concerned. The government issued stop-work orders to Edesia and Mana Nutrition, two American companies that produce a vital peanut paste used to treat malnutrition. Thankfully, USAID later allowed these companies to proceed with their existing projects, but soon after, the contracts were abruptly canceled. After this cancellation was publicized, Musk stated he would look into the issue and claimed to restore one contract. However, the next day, another company’s contract was unexpectedly reinstated as well.

Yet, according to both companies, this was just the beginning of the problems. The reinstated contracts only allowed them to fulfill previous orders. Recently, emails revealed that the Trump administration canceled all future orders, putting about 3 million children at risk of missing critical nutrition over the next year. Additionally, without new contracts awarded to shipping companies, much of the food needed for these children remains stuck in the U.S.

Malnutrition is a severe issue globally. Nearly half of all deaths in children under five years old are linked to it. Children in extreme cases show devastating signs, such as hair discoloration and muscle wasting, and some may lose the ability to feel hunger altogether. According to Mark Manary, a pediatrics professor, lifesaving foods like Plumpy’Nut, which allows parents to treat their children at home, have significantly improved recovery rates. Over 90% of children treated with this emergency food recover within weeks.

Plumpy’Nut first appeared in the early 2000s and was used by the U.S. in humanitarian efforts starting in 2011. This peanut butter-based paste is enriched with nutrients and is easy to digest, making it a lifesaver in malnutrition crises. It has no refrigeration needs, which is a massive advantage in unstable regions. A six-week supply costs around $40 and can fulfill the nutritional needs of children from six months to five years old. Experts have called this ready-to-use therapeutic food one of the greatest public health successes in recent decades.

Typically, the process to get this emergency food to children involves multiple organizations. UNICEF and the World Food Programme predict food needs and request USAID to purchase the necessary supplies. USAID then contracts companies like Edesia and Mana to produce and ship the food, while UNICEF handles the final distribution via local partners.

Recently, however, the Trump administration has disrupted this entire system. Both Moores and Salem claimed that USAID agreed last October to procure over a million boxes of therapeutic food, with UNICEF set to distribute some of this as early as March. However, cancellations hit on April 4, halting the planned aid to ten countries most in need. Families in countries like Chad and Somalia rely on this assistance as humanitarian aid to combat malnutrition.

Mark Moore expressed his deep concern over the children’s lives at stake. His company has an abundance of food ready to be delivered, yet the logistics to ship remain unresolved. Edesia, on the other hand, drastically reduced production from 10,000 packets a day to only 2,000 due to the contract cancellations.

Both leaders highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the shipping of their products. Moore lamented that thousands of boxes remain packed but cannot reach those who desperately need them. His frustration underscores a painful issue: without this critical assistance, kids will not just end up hungry—they will end up dead or disabled, primarily impacting their cognitive development.

UNICEF stated that about 7 million children will face extreme malnutrition by 2025, but existing budgets only allow treatment for fewer than 4.2 million. The cuts to USAID have left critical gaps in nutrition programs, and the timeline for filling orders is getting shorter, with severe consequences looming. Manary warned that if aid isn’t provided soon, many will perish, and those who survive might face significant disabilities.

In a statement from the State Department, officials insisted that the U.S. remains committed to aiding those in need, maintaining that resources and responsibilities go hand-in-hand. But as the situation stands, rhetoric does not match reality. USAID, DOGE, and Musk have yet to clarify how they plan to address the critical needs facing these children.

The urgency cannot be overstated. Either there will be a resolution to ship the life-saving supplies, or they’ll be thrown out. Each box represents a potential life saved, and time is running short.



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