A senior US official, Michael Rigas, has admitted that the closure of the US aid agency, USAID, on July 1 led to the waste of nearly 500 tons of emergency high-energy biscuits intended for malnourished children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The food, purchased for approximately $800,000 during the Biden administration, expired in a Dubai warehouse and will now be incinerated at an additional cost of $130,000 to US taxpayers.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio slashed over 80% of US foreign assistance, incorporating remaining USAID functions into the State Department, a move Rigas linked to the food waste. Senator Tim Kaine criticized the decision, highlighting that lawmakers had warned Rubio about the expiring food in March. Rigas, despite acknowledging the waste, reiterated that the US remains the largest global donor and pledged to investigate the incident further. This incident occurs amidst broader cost-cutting and layoffs at the State Department under the Trump administration.