Sponsors (13)
The bill centralizes Food for Peace authority in USDA to keep food-aid programs and famine analysis running without interruption, trading improved operational continuity and agricultural expertise for risks to foreign-policy coordination and some short-term administrative and compliance costs.
Nonprofits and people in food-insecure regions retain continuity of U.S.-funded food assistance because USDA can immediately publish interim rules to keep Food for Peace programs operating.
Rural communities, farmers, and agricultural workers benefit from preserved famine and flood analysis because USDA assumes Food for Peace authorities and keeps the Famine Early Warning Systems Network functioning under consolidated oversight.
State and local governments and agricultural suppliers can coordinate more directly with USDA expertise, potentially improving program design and procurement of agricultural commodities for aid.
State Department, USAID processes, nonprofits, and foreign aid recipients may see weaker foreign-policy coordination and poorer targeting or acceptance of aid because consolidating diplomatic and programmatic authority in USDA could sideline State/USAID input.
Taxpayers could incur transitional administrative costs because shifting Food for Peace operations from USAID to USDA may require staff reorganizations, IT changes, and contract adjustments.
Humanitarian organizations used to USAID procedures may face short-term confusion and compliance costs because they must adapt to USDA rules and interim regulations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Transfers administration and authorities for the Food for Peace Act from USAID to the Secretary of Agriculture and allows USDA to issue interim rules to maintain continuity.
Official title: Transfer the functions, duties, responsibilities, assets, liabilities, orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, loans, contracts, agreements, certificates, licenses, and privileges of the United States Agency for International Development relating to implementing and administering the Food for Peace Act to the Department of Agriculture.
Introduced February 11, 2025 by Jerry Moran · Last progress February 11, 2025
Transfers responsibility for the Food for Peace Act and related authorities, assets, liabilities, and legal instruments from the USAID Administrator to the Secretary of Agriculture. It lets the Secretary of Agriculture adopt interim final rules on publication to keep the program running, exercise statutory authorities formerly held by USAID for Food for Peace operations, preserve USDA responsibility for the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, and requires periodic consultation with the Secretary of State when carrying out Title II authorities.