The U.S. administration under President Trump has reversed its decision to cut emergency food aid to certain countries but has upheld the cuts for Afghanistan and Yemen, among the globe’s poorest and most conflict-ridden nations. This development stems from the latest series of abrupt changes to foreign aid managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which have included unexpected cancellations and subsequent reinstatements of aid contracts. These actions coincide with efforts by the Trump administration, backed by adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, to scale back USAID and reduce foreign aid expenditure, citing the belief that such spending is wasteful and supports liberal agendas.
The U.S. recently announced it was halting funding for emergency programs by the U.N. World Food Program in multiple countries. These cutbacks, officials warned, could endanger the lives of millions, especially in regions already susceptible to conflict. However, the State Department confirmed a reversal of these cuts for countries like Somalia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Ecuador, though Afghanistan and Yemen remain without aid, and the status of aid in six other unspecified nations is undetermined.
Despite reinstating aid to regions like Syria and Somalia, the U.S. aims to realign its funding with the administration’s priorities in collaboration with the U.N., though no specifics were given. According to undisclosed USAID officials, the head of aid agency deconstruction, Jeremy Lewin, authorized some reversals of his prior terminations after media coverage emerged, signaling internal regret over the sudden changes.
The Trump administration’s aid review stressed preserving lifesaving programs. Nonetheless, substantial lobbying efforts by the U.N. with U.S. Congress members prompted the reinstatement of certain funds. The U.S. justified the cessation of some WFP initiatives due to longstanding concerns about terrorist group funding, including involvement by the Houthis and the Taliban.
Despite rescinding some aid terminations, areas like Afghanistan, with over half its populace needing humanitarian aid due to enduring conflicts, face large-scale assistance reduction. The U.S. was providing significant humanitarian support, but recent cuts have reduced emergency food and crucial health resources drastically.
In Yemen, still reeling from ongoing civil war and widespread hunger, aid funding cuts threaten millions reliant on food assistance and nutritional care. Part of a U.S. retaliation strategy against Houthi aggression linked to ongoing conflicts, these cuts could potentially exacerbate instabilities further. The impact of the aid cessation is feared to deepen Yemen’s economic and security crises even more.
Last year, the WFP reached millions in Yemen, with critical assistance benefiting numerous displaced individuals and those with disabilities. As the Yemen conflict persists, the cutbacks pose severe risks, especially for women and children.