DeLauro Statement on Trump Administration Destroying Food Aid for Children
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement regarding the imminent destruction of 500 tons of food aid for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan:
“I am disgusted that the Trump Administration has withheld 500 metric tons of life-saving nutritional aid, enough to feed about 1.5 million children for a week, for so long that it is about to spoil and will have to be destroyed.
For years, USAID has purchased millions of tons of food from American farmers, sending American-grown products to save vulnerable children around the world. Now, 500 tons of food grown by American farmers will be destroyed, at a cost of $130,000 to American taxpayers. In May, Secretary Rubio promised before the Appropriations Committee that he would ensure food aid would reach its final destinations before spoiling. Once again, the Trump Administration has lied, and people will die because of this.
While children starve, President Trump sits on his hands. There is no greater example of waste than spending taxpayer dollars on lifesaving aid and then refusing to deliver that aid for so long, it spoils and must be incinerated. It is indefensible.”
###