Trump Ends USAID Programs Supplying Food and Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration has terminated some of the last active U.S. humanitarian aid programs in the Middle East and other conflict-affected regions, including contracts with the World Food Program. The cancellations affect critical food, water, and medical assistance in countries like Yemen, Syria, and Zimbabwe. USAID’s dismantling continues despite prior promises to spare lifesaving aid.
Trump Shuts Down Lifesaving Aid Programs: Quick Looks
- USAID canceled about 60 humanitarian aid contracts last week.
- Contracts affected World Food Program efforts in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan.
- Aid projects in Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe also impacted.
- Letter cites cancellation “for the convenience of the U.S. Government.”
- Oversight directed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
- Cuts run contrary to earlier pledges to preserve critical programs.
- Around 900 projects had been set aside for preservation by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Thousands of previous contracts were already terminated under USAID’s overhaul.
- No comment yet from the State Department on the aid cuts.
Trump Ends USAID Programs Supplying Food and Aid
Deep Look
Trump Administration Ends Vital USAID Programs in Middle East and Africa, Affecting Millions in Crisis Zones
The Trump administration has quietly moved to end a series of crucial humanitarian aid programs in the Middle East and Africa, terminating USAID contracts that provided food, water, and medical support in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, U.S. and U.N. officials confirmed Monday.
According to an internal letter obtained by the Associated Press, the terminations were initiated “for the convenience of the U.S. Government,” and directed by Jeremy Lewin, a senior official within the Department of Government Efficiency — a division overseen by Trump adviser Elon Musk. The canceled programs mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, with the United States pulling back from its longstanding role as a leader in global humanitarian relief.
Approximately 60 letters of contract termination were sent over the past week, ending agreements with the World Food Program (WFP), the U.N.’s largest food aid agency, in multiple countries including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. A U.N. official based in the Middle East confirmed WFP’s receipt of the termination letters.
USAID officials revealed that programs in Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe were also among those cut. These initiatives provided critical assistance to civilians displaced by conflict, including food distribution, clean water access, mobile medical units, and temporary shelters.
The Trump administration had previously pledged to spare “lifesaving” programs from its broader campaign to shrink the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has already seen thousands of development contracts canceled in the name of government efficiency and reducing international aid dependency.
This new round of terminations appears to contradict that promise. The projects now halted were among roughly 900 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had formally identified to Congress as essential and slated for continuation.
Deepening the USAID Overhaul
The cuts come as part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to restructure or dismantle USAID, which has faced growing scrutiny from Trump allies who accuse the agency of mismanaging funds and promoting liberal social policies abroad.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, established to streamline federal operations and reduce overseas expenditures, has played a leading role in guiding the closure of USAID. Lewin, a close Musk aide, was tapped to oversee the final phase of the agency’s operations.
The letter informing USAID partners of the cancellations reportedly made no mention of alternative support strategies or transitional plans for affected communities.
Global and Political Implications
The decision is expected to further strain relationships with U.S. allies and humanitarian organizations who rely heavily on American support to fund operations in crisis zones. WFP has already scaled back some of its programs in conflict-ridden areas due to funding shortfalls, and the loss of U.S. assistance is expected to exacerbate hunger and instability in regions such as the Horn of Africa and war-torn parts of the Middle East.
There has been no public comment yet from the State Department, which oversees USAID, nor has there been an official statement from Secretary Rubio’s office about the status of the previously protected aid contracts.
With Trump seeking to redefine America’s global footprint, foreign assistance continues to be a central target of his administration’s cost-cutting agenda — even at the expense of longstanding bipartisan support for humanitarian missions.
Humanitarian leaders and aid groups warn the timing couldn’t be worse, citing rising global food insecurity, persistent conflicts, and climate-related disasters that are pushing millions further into crisis.
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