The United States has stopped all federal assistance programmes that support Somalia’s federal government following allegations that senior officials destroyed a warehouse funded by the World Food Programme and unlawfully took large quantities of donated food meant for vulnerable people. The decision, announced on Wednesday, signals a hardening stance by the Trump administration on aid oversight and accountability.
According to a statement shared by the administration, the action followed reports that officials from the Federal Government of Somalia demolished a US-funded World Food Programme warehouse and seized 76 metric tons of donor-supported food assistance.
The aid was intended to support Somalis facing severe food shortages.
In a social media post, the administration said it was “deeply concerned by reports that Federal Government of Somalia officials have destroyed a US-funded World Food Programme warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid for vulnerable Somalis.”
The post added, “The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance.”
The announcement was made through the social media account of the US State Department’s Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom. As of now, Somali government officials have not issued a public response to the claims.
The aid suspension comes against a backdrop of growing tension between the Trump administration and Somali communities, both in Somalia and within the United States.
In recent months, the administration has taken steps that include tighter limits on Somali immigration, air strikes against armed groups inside Somalia, and public criticism directed at Somali Americans.
President Donald Trump has previously made sharp remarks about the Somali American community. During a cabinet meeting held in December, he linked some Somali Americans to alleged fraud cases in Minnesota and used harsh language when discussing immigration.
“We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country,” Trump said at the December 2 meeting.
Following those comments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that denaturalisation could be considered for Somali Americans found to be involved in such cases.
Since returning to the White House in 2025, the Trump administration has moved to cut back humanitarian spending overseas. It remains unclear how much additional support will be affected by the latest halt, or how long the suspension will last.
The State Department said the door remains open for aid to resume, but only if the Somali federal government accepts responsibility and takes corrective action over the alleged incident. “Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government, taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps,” the Department said in a statement.
Under the previous administration led by President Joe Biden, the United States provided about $770 million in assistance to Somalia, though officials noted that only a small share of that funding went directly to the federal government.
