1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

The pause on USAID funding is placing nearly $500 million worth of food aid at risk of spoilage as it sits idle in ports, warehouses and ships. This critical aid supports humanitarian relief efforts in over 100 countries globally. With 500,000 metric tons of food currently unable to be shipped, vulnerable populations face increased food insecurity and potential famine. USAID's procurement from American farmers is also impacted, jeopardizing agricultural markets. Allowing this food to go to waste would be unconscionably wasteful when it could save countless lives. I implore you to promptly restore USAID funding to safeguard this vital aid and enable its timely distribution where it is so desperately needed. The human costs of inaction are simply too high.