The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a central component of international relief efforts, has come to an abrupt halt after extensive international aid cuts by the Trump administration.
The warning systems network has been a critical contributor in monitoring droughts, crop production, food prices and other indicators in order to forecast food insecurity in more than 30 countries. The impact of its shutdown amid other global humanitarian efforts has already had effects.
FEWS NET was established in the wake of the 1984 Ethiopian feminine, which caused an estimated 700,000 deaths. This took the world by surprise, prompting President Ronald Reagan to create a system that provides early warnings for food insecurity and other pertinent humanitarian issues to international relief efforts through massive amounts of data and research conducted worldwide.
Despite the website shutting down, its data serves extremely beneficial purposes by other governments, NGOs, IGOs and researchers worldwide in order to make informed life-saving decisions. The initiative no longer has ample funds to pay staff in both Washington D.C. and ground-working members in foreign countries.
Nicholas Enrich, acting administrator for USAID, released a memo articulating that USAID has not implemented life-saving humanitarian assistance under a temporary exemption to the foreign aid pause authorized by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He further condemned additional “obstacles” by leadership from the State Department and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Rubio has claimed that he has issued a blanket waiver for life-saving initiatives like food and medical aid.
“It’s providing food or medicine or anything that is saving lives and is immediate and urgent, you’re not included in the freeze. I don’t know how much more clear we can be than that,” Rubio said.
Throughout the joint conference, Rubio reiterated the stances and goals of the Trump administration.
“I have long supported foreign aid. I continue to support foreign aid. But foreign aid is not charity. It exists for the purpose of advancing the national interest of the United States. Every dollar we will spend as long as I’m Secretary of State — and as long as President Trump is in the White House — is going to be a dollar that’s advancing our national interests,” Rubio said.
However, many USAID programs need federal contractors to cover costs upfront and then get reimbursed, but as of now, USAID isn’t currently processing any payments, virtually stalling all humanitarian assistance programs like FEWS NET.
Chris Newton, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, told NPR that FEWS NET has had persistent bipartisan support since its establishment, remaining untouched through multiple presidencies including Republican President George W. Bush.
“There certainly was a moral imperative to a lot of that thinking, but ultimately that support was established and sustained because there was continued agreement that it really mattered for the safety, security and prosperity of the United States,” Newton said.
The future of FEWS NET and other USAID funded agencies remain uncertain.
