“The scale of this disruption underscores the far-reaching consequences of the funding pause on global food assistance efforts,” a senior WFP official wrote in one of the emails seen by Reuters. The agency estimates that more than 507,000 metric tons of food — worth more than $340 million — are stranded, whether en route by sea, sitting in warehouses in 23 countries or stalled in domestic U.S. supply chains.
The situation has been compounded by a drastic restructuring at USAID, the main U.S. agency funding global food relief. Thousands of staff are reportedly being cut under a plan led by Elon Musk, tech billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). That leadership vacuum has made it even harder for the Rome-based WFP and other aid groups to get answers about the status of their funding.
A WFP spokesperson told POLITICO that the agency is working to navigate the crisis.
“WFP greatly appreciates the support it receives from all of its donors. Our colleagues are in constant contact with key stakeholders in the U.S. government to ensure we understand any new developments or priorities that relate to our work,” the spokesperson said.
As WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain scrambles to get answers in Washington, European donors are bracing for impact. The European Union, one of the world’s largest aid donors, has not yet indicated whether it will increase funding to offset the shortfall, but aid officials fear the coming months could test its ability — and willingness — to fill the gap.
Shifting priorities
The disruption to WFP’s operations may not be just a temporary setback — it could be a sign of a fundamental shift in how the U.S. approaches global food aid. The Trump administration’s 90-day foreign aid review isn’t just a bureaucratic pause — it’s part of a broader rethink of Washington’s role in international assistance.
