US Aid Halt Shatters Global Hunger Relief Causing Millions Face Starvation

*People hold placards as the USAID building sits closed to employees after a memo was issued advising agency personnel to work remotely, in Washington on Monday. Kent Nishimura/REUTERS*

February 7, 2025

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international humanitarian community, the Trump administration’s abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign aid has critically undermined global efforts to combat hunger.

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign development assistance programs, pending a comprehensive review. This suspension has led to the immediate halting of numerous aid programs, leaving millions who rely on U.S. assistance in dire straits.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a cornerstone in the fight against global hunger, has been significantly impacted. Reports indicate that over 1,000 USAID employees and contractors have been placed on leave or terminated, following directives to cease operations. The agency’s official website has been taken offline, and staff have been denied access to headquarters, signaling a potential dismantling of the organization.

The repercussions of this aid suspension are profound. Essential services, including food distribution, healthcare, and support for vulnerable populations, have been disrupted. In regions like Sudan and Gaza, cash assistance programs have been halted, and community kitchens have closed, leaving countless individuals without access to daily sustenance.

Humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concerns over the immediate and long-term impacts of the aid freeze. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported receiving orders from Washington to halt work on dozens of U.S.-funded grants, affecting food assistance in impoverished countries such as Yemen, Sudan, and Haiti.

The suspension has also led to the closure of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a critical tool in predicting and preventing food crises. Its absence leaves aid organizations without essential data to guide their efforts, potentially exacerbating hunger emergencies worldwide.

Legal challenges have emerged in response to the administration’s actions. The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the dismantling of USAID is unconstitutional and has precipitated a global humanitarian crisis.

As the 90-day review period progresses, the international community watches with bated breath, aware that each passing day without aid delivery deepens the crisis for millions facing hunger. The suspension of U.S. aid not only threatens immediate relief efforts but also jeopardizes long-term development programs essential for sustainable food security worldwide.