Act Now: Global food assistance and U.S. federal aid paused
This action alert comes to us from our coalition partners at Bread for the World.
Over the past few days, the new administration has issued executive orders temporarily pausing current and new U.S. foreign assistance programs, as well as U.S. federal aid for select domestic programs. Such actions will impact tens of millions of the most vulnerable populations around the world. And in the U.S., the administration may soon pause nutrition programs impacting nearly 48 million people.
While reviews are standard for incoming administrations, pauses are not. These programs must be able to continue to provide vital assistance without severe disruptions while the reviews are underway.
Please urge your members of Congress to call for an immediate end to the pause on U.S. foreign assistance and to protect domestic nutrition programs.
Late last week, the administration issued an executive order temporarily pausing U.S. foreign assistance. This includes all non-emergency food assistance, affecting tens of millions of people.
In 2023, USAID nutrition programs reached more than 39 million women and children globally with critical nutrition assistance, including 28 million children with nutrition programs and 11 million women with counseling on maternal and child nutrition. These and other programs are now on hold while the administration conducts a 90-day review.
Bread is also concerned that executive orders issued by the administration could impact domestic programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and assistance to food banks.
SNAP helps supplement families’ grocery budgets, making nutritious food more affordable for an average of 41 million people in the U.S. per month. In 2023, the last year data is available, WIC reached nearly 7 million women and young children.
Please contact your members of Congress now and urge them to call for an immediate end to the pause on U.S. foreign assistance and to protect domestic nutrition programs.