Hunger Pains
Famine intelligence networks are under attack, threatening the lives of millions
The Trump administration's deep cuts to USAID programs, including the suspension of the vital Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), have triggered widespread humanitarian concern, significantly compromising global crisis response capabilities. Experts urge governments and organizations to prioritize resilient funding and data infrastructure to prevent devastating humanitarian consequences.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Under the Trump administration, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has initiated significant federal spending reductions, particularly targeting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These actions have raised concerns among humanitarian organizations and experts about potential adverse effects on global aid and the data systems that support effective humanitarian responses.
Following President Donald J. Trump's inauguration earlier this year, DOGE began aggressively cutting federal spending. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of 83% of USAID's programs, impacting roughly 5,200 contracts and grants. The administration justified these cuts as necessary to eliminate wasteful spending and realign foreign aid with U.S. national interests.
The swift implementation terminated more than 90% of USAID's humanitarian and development contracts globally, placing thousands of agency employees on administrative leave or dismissing them altogether and effectively shuttering USAID's headquarters in Washington. This rapid dismantling prompted legal concerns, leading a federal judge to rule that the administration’s actions likely violated constitutional provisions.
Flying Blind
Among the immediate casualties was the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), established in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan. FEWS NET has been crucial in predicting famines and ensuring timely and effective food aid distribution. Its suspension leaves significant gaps in humanitarian response, complicating aid distribution to regions facing food insecurity.
FEWS NET's comprehensive data analysis—ranging from satellite imagery to agricultural productivity forecasts—has been essential for governments and aid organizations to anticipate and mitigate food crises. Without this system, predicting and responding effectively to famines becomes severely compromised, heightening the risk of large-scale humanitarian disasters.
A U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized, "Governments and donors must ringfence flexible, predictable funding to sustain critical crisis data—from food prices and nutrition surveillance to early warning and market monitoring. Humanitarian organizations should embed data collection and analysis as core operational components, not afterthoughts or 'nice-to-haves.' If we can’t see the crisis, we can’t respond to it."
Cut Deep
The impact of USAID’s dismantling is already severe. Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, face drastic cuts in aid, with the U.N. World Food Programme warning it may have to halve food rations from $12.50 to $6 per person per month, critically affecting over one million refugees.
In Mexico and Latin America, abrupt program cancellations stalled roughly $600 million in committed funding, disrupting essential development projects and creating crises for numerous organizations and communities.
Amid these disruptions, the WFP source noted, "The private sector can step up by making relevant data—on mobility, market trends, climate, and more—available for humanitarian use through secure, ethical partnerships. Concerned citizens and professionals can ask their institutions, donors, and networks: What are we doing to prevent a data blackout in the face of rising global need?"
New Rules
In response to these unprecedented disruptions by the U.S. government, humanitarian organizations worldwide are advised to:
Diversify Funding: Urgently secure varied funding sources to mitigate sudden political or administrative decisions.
Strengthen Data Infrastructure: Invest in resilient, decentralized data systems that can withstand political and financial crises.
Enhance Advocacy and Communication: Prioritize advocacy and transparent communication to increase public awareness and mobilize global support.
Prepare Legally: Understand and leverage legal protections to safeguard essential humanitarian programs.
Pushback
The rapid cuts by DOGE have spurred significant legal challenges. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the administration's dismantling of USAID, describing it as likely unconstitutional and ordering DOGE to halt further reductions. The injunction mandated immediate restoration of email and computer access for USAID employees.
Additionally, lawsuits from the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association argue the administration's actions bypassed required congressional approval, creating a "global humanitarian crisis."
Despite legal and humanitarian pushback, Congress, particularly Republicans who regained control of the Senate and retained their House majority in 2024, largely supports the administration’s agenda. Congressional alignment is evidenced by the formation of House and Senate DOGE caucuses, committed to reducing federal expenditures and increasing government efficiency.
On Friday afternoon, the Trump administration detailed its plans to fully subordinate the USAID to the State Department and reduce its staff to 15 positions, down from 10,000, in an email to staff titled “U.S.A.I.D.’s Final Mission.”
The discontinuation of FEWS NET, combined with broader aid cuts, threatens global famine prevention efforts, placing millions at heightened risk of food insecurity. As legal battles continue, humanitarian organizations worldwide remain deeply concerned about the immediate and long-term consequences of these drastic policy shifts.