U.S. National Statement at the WFP Executive Board February 18, 2025

The following was shared by Louis Mendez, saying: Nothing but dark clouds

U.S. National Statement at the WFP Executive Board  February 18, 2025

As Prepared for Delivery

The United States commends the World Food Program’s (WFP) commitment to providing lifesaving food assistance to the world’s most vulnerable. The United States’ relationship with the World Food Program is crucial for providing safe and accountable assistance to those in need.  And we recognize the courage and dedication of WFP staff, many of whom work in difficult situations around the globe, for their efforts. WFP’s footprint and core logistical capabilities are the backbone to respond to the world’s complex needs.

Colleagues, it is important to highlight today that, consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, the United States has paused all U.S. foreign assistance for review.  We are in the process of a review of all foreign assistance programs to ensure that they are efficient, accountable, and consistent with U.S. foreign policy.

As most of you are aware, Secretary Rubio approved a broad waiver on January 28 for humanitarian aid, which is defined as “life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance.”  And we are pleased we have been able to implement that waiver with WFP to continue to provide food assistance to those who need it.

However, President Trump has stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to dole out money with no return for the American people. We will protect America’s investment in any assistance with a deliberate and judicious review of how we spend foreign assistance dollars overseas, and we take our role as stewards of American taxpayer dollars very seriously.  As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

There are items in WFP’s work that we will need to see adjusted to align U.S. funding with this policy.  First, on gender ideology and extremism – U.S. funds will not be used to promote gender ideology, and all references to and work to that end should cease immediately.  Second, just as the United States has ended radical and wasteful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, so should WFP and all other UN agencies end any programs, initiatives, or funding that promote these harmful ideologies; instead they should focus on merit.  The United States may advance other needed areas of correction or recalibration – such as regarding climate change initiatives – in the UN system’s work, but the above programs should stop now.  It is right and proper for WFP to assist people who have been hard hit by weather events, just as it does with any natural disaster or conflict, and that work should continue, of course.  In short, WFP should not be advancing political ideologies while conducting its life-saving work.

Transparency, accountability, and sound governance at WFP remain top priorities for the United States. While much work remains to be done, we are pleased with WFP’s ongoing internal reforms, including the Global Assurance Project (GAP), which is intended to get aid in the hands of the right people, safely, in every context.  We look forward to the GAP’s continued rollout in country offices worldwide in 2025.  But, we reiterate that the GAP, too, must not advance gender ideology or DEI programs.  Our expectation is an improved environment for risk and aid diversion conversations among donors.

The United States looks forward to a continued discussion on the implementation of the recommendations presented by the Governance Working Group and values our close collaboration with other Board members on this effort.  Organizational and governance reforms result in a lasting shift in culture and systems that prioritize accountability, empower field offices, improve delivery of quality assistance to intended beneficiaries, and assure proper risk management.

In closing, I want to emphasize that Americans are a hardworking and generous people, who have sacrificed their blood and treasure to help their fellow man across the globe.  But, as Secretary Rubio has made clear, no foreign nation is entitled to those benefits, and no foreign aid program is above scrutiny.  We will continue to donate generously when calamity strikes and people are in need.

And we will continue to work closely with the members of the board and with WFP leadership to ensure that WFP’s transparent, results-driven management of American taxpayer dollars continues to result in life-saving aid that reaches those most in need and doesn’t stray into political issues.  The world is counting on all of us to do the right thing, and the United States of America will lead the way in the months and years to come.

In this regard, we urge fellow donors to also continue to support WFP’s clear mandate for its emergency response efforts through additional resources to help quickly scale-up desperately needed life-saving food assistance in places like, Gaza, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon and Haiti, among others.