Today, Explained We’re setting fire to food aid
41 snips
Jul 21, 2025 
Hannah Kiros, an Assistant Editor at The Atlantic, and Tracy Roof, an Associate Professor at the University of Richmond, discuss the alarming dismantling of U.S. food aid programs. They delve into the Trump administration's decision to incinerate nearly 500 tons of emergency food, highlighting the ethical ramifications and the consequences of wasted aid. The conversation touches on the historical evolution of food assistance in the U.S., and the bureaucratic challenges that lead to child hunger, while raising pressing questions about government priorities in addressing food insecurity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Food Aid Incineration Revealed
- The Trump administration ordered the incineration of nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food aid.
- This food could have fed about 1.5 million children for a week but was destroyed due to policy changes and expiration.
Aid Program Dismantlement Effects
- USAID cleared out most employees and terminated 90% of contracts for international aid.
- This dismantling severely disrupts longstanding food aid distribution benefiting global vulnerable populations and American farmers.
Food Aid Supports U.S. Farmers
- U.S. food aid is structured to benefit American farmers and shipping industries.
- Cutting food aid harms domestic agriculture markets and reduces farmers' export opportunities.