The stored food, valued at over $98 million, could sustain about 3.5 million people for a month but is deteriorating in warehouses across multiple locations, including Djibouti, South Africa, Dubai, and Houston.

USAID, which previously had a budget of nearly $50 billion, was responsible for implementing U.S. development efforts globally, including disaster relief and support for democratic and environmental initiatives.

Elon Musk, as an advisor to Trump, significantly influenced the dismantling of USAID, resulting in the cancellation of nearly all contracts and a drastic reduction of its workforce from about 10,000 to just 300 employees.

As a result of the drastic cuts at USAID, approximately 60,000 tons of food aid are at risk of rotting, including nearly 500 tonnes of high-energy biscuits that may need to be disposed of instead of distributed.

On January 20, 2025, former President Trump ordered an immediate suspension of all foreign aid, which has severely impacted the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Despite being the largest donor of humanitarian aid globally, contributing over 38% of all UN aid, the recent cuts have raised serious concerns about increased mortality rates among malnourished children.

Plans to transfer the excess food to aid organizations are currently stalled, pending approval from the State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance.

Reports indicate that much of this food may need to be destroyed due to terminated contracts and a lack of funding, which has hindered effective distribution logistics.

These cuts coincide with rising global hunger levels, with the World Food Programme reporting that 343 million people are facing acute food insecurity.

Organizations like UNICEF and Action Against Hunger have reported severe impacts on their programs due to these cuts, including recent child fatalities attributed to lack of resources.

With some supplies set to expire as early as July 2025, the situation is becoming increasingly urgent as food intended for regions experiencing famine, such as Gaza and Sudan, remains stuck in storage.

Although there are some exceptions for humanitarian programs in specific regions, the overall operational capacity of USAID has been severely compromised.