Renewing America’s Leadership in Global Food Security

As we remember the one-year anniversary of the closure of USAID, and the transfer of development and humanitarian functions to the State Department, Congress has an opportunity to shape the next chapter of U.S. foreign assistance. A recent poll from Echelon Insights and The Rockefeller Foundation shows that most Americans have a favorable view of foreign aid. Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation and former USAID Administrator under President Obama, notes that “this data should encourage all of us to commit to a modern, accountable approach to foreign aid that can deliver real results.” Mark Green, President & CEO of the ONE Campaign and former USAID Administrator during President Trump’s first term, similarly relayed that this is a consequential year for international development, and America’s role in it. As Congress considers the future of U.S. foreign assistance, there is an opportunity to center food security and examine how long-term, bipartisan investments can continue advancing both U.S. interests and efforts to end global hunger.

Feed the Future and the Global Food Security Act

Feed the Future (FTF) is the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. It was created in 2009 by the Obama administration, building off earlier investments that began at the end of the Bush administration. Global food prices spiked in 2007 and 2008, resulting in worldwide food insecurity, civil unrest, and political and economic instability. U.S. leadership at the G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy, in 2009 led to the launch of Feed the Future in 2010. 

Bread for the World was a leading voice when FTF was launched, as is reflected in past research. The Global Food Security Act of 2016 (GFSA), which authorized Feed the Future, and the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2018,signed into law by President Trump, captured “the national interest of the United States to promote global food security, resilience, and nutrition.” The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 passed with bipartisan support and set priorities to “improve nutrition, strengthen equity in food systems, and improve livelihoods and food security through climate adaptation.” The current GFSA is authorized through September 30, 2028, so now is the time to start laying the advocacy foundation for a legislative push in 2027. 

Congressional Funding for Feed for the Future 

Feed the Future fundamentally transformed global food systems and reduced hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. From FY2010 to FY2024, Congress appropriated approximately $1 billion annually for FTF, funding community-level nutrition, inclusive agriculture-led economic growth, agricultural research, and resilient food systems. A 2025 report noted the following accomplishments from FTF in FY24: 

• 34 million people participated in U.S. government supported food security programming. 
• The value of annual sales from farmers and firms supported by Feed the Future reached $5.1 billion. 
• 10.2 million producers applied improved agricultural practices on more than 5.1 million hectares of cropland and cultivated pasture.

One year after the cancelation of most FTF programs, only a few efforts remain, and new food security investments have been made by the State Department’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response. This includes the redesigned and consolidated America First focused Innovation Labs (not yet awarded) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Yet, funding from Congress for Feed the Future continues to flow through annual appropriations. Congress authorized $960 million in FY2025 and $720 million in FY2026. This reaffirms Congress’s bipartisan support towards strengthening global food security. 

Renewing America’s Leadership and Commitment to Global Food Security 

Despite these institutional and funding changes, the underlying drivers of hunger have not changed, including conflict, climate shocks, and fragile food systems. For this 

this reason, Congress and the Trump administration should boldly invest in and scale up the work of Feed the Future, including the following actions:

• Obligate unspent funds. Mandate the State Department to obligate all expiring FY2025 FTF appropriations by September 30, 2026, and all remaining FY2026 FTF appropriations by September 30, 2027, into food security programs.

• Fund FTF at $720 million in FY2027. Appropriate $720 million or more for FY2027 for Feed the Future. The House Appropriations Committee advanced the FY2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) bill, which included food security and agricultural development programs. After the Senate releases its text, both chambers must reconcile their funding differences, hopefully at or above this level.

As the reauthorization of the GFSA approaches in FY2028, Congress, the administration, and U.S. advocates have an opportunity to renew American leadership in and commitment to strengthening global food security. Without continued support for this authorization and these annual appropriations, we risk losing decades of progress in the global fight against hunger. More lives would be lost, our own national security would be threatened, and the U.S. would surrender its moral leadership on the world stage.

Together we can build on what has worked while shaping the next chapter of America’s leadership in global food security and reaffirming our shared commitment to ending global hunger and malnutrition.

Katie Garcia is Director of Bread for the World’s Policy and Research Institute (PRI).