Food Aid Funding

Food Aid Funding has seen continual and disproportionate funding cuts since 2008. Just this past February, the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives proposed cuts of nearly $800 million to the country’s international food aid programs. After much outcry from the development community, the cuts were reduced, resulting in a $194 million cut, or 11.4 percent. But the fight for food aid funding is a continual battle, with more cuts proposed to food aid in the FY2012 budget and possibly in the 2012 Farm Bill. Eventually, if this process continues, our effective food aid programs will fade quietly into oblivion.

Food Aid programs represent just one half of one percent of the federal budget, yet they impact the lives of millions of hungry people around the world every year. Cuts to these programs have devastating consequences for the needy around the world, as well as the U.S. – putting thousands of jobs on the line and creating new risk to national security.

“One in five American jobs depends on trade and nearly half of U.S. exports go to developing countries, making the International Affairs budget an essential part of strengthening the nation’s economy and creating new markets for U.S. goods and services around the world.”

• U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
  February 14, 2011

“I am concerned that levels of funding for our State Department and USAID partners will not sufficiently enable them to build on the hard-fought security achievements of our men and women in uniform.”

• General David Petraeus
  Commander, International Security Assistance Force
  March 15, 2011

“The United States is now the fastest provider of food assistance at times of crisis and emergency. And importantly, we pre-positioned our food around the world to make it accessible. So that after the big floods in Pakistan, for example, we were able to reach poor children who were very vulnerable very quickly with higher nutrition products.”

• Dr. Raj Shah
  USAID Administrator
  June 22, 2011

For more information:

• A letter from food aid industry leaders
• USA Maritime’s statement on the budget cut recommendations
• A letter from volunteer organizations that deliver food aid
• A letter from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on national security implications
• Alliance for Global Food Security’s statement on the budget cut recommendations
• An editorial from the Alliance for Global Food Security
• A report from the World Bank, finding that rising food prices have pushed another 44 million people into extreme poverty, the highest levels since the 2007-2008 food crisis

What Others Are Saying:

• Food Aid Funding Dramatically Cut
• International Food Crisis Is Escalating
• America's National Security Is At Risk
• Cutting Aid Cuts American Jobs

Thousands of Americans are involved in growing and transporting food aid. The Journey of U.S. Food Aid takes you from the farm to the ports across the ocean and finally to the lands where aid is delivered. Click on the book to flip through its contents.