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FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. State Division and Secretary Marco Rubio punched again at claims that contracts offering Prepared-to-Use Therapeutic Meals (RUTFs) have been halted and affirmed the company will proceed its dedication to “delivering important humanitarian help.”
“As USAID transitions below the State Division, our dedication to delivering important humanitarian help stays steadfast and aligned with America’s international coverage priorities,” a senior State Division official instructed Fox Information Digital in an unique assertion.
“We’re proud to proceed working with our native companions to ship life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic meals. Most not too long ago, an extra $50 million in RUTFs was permitted. This is sufficient to nourish over a million of the world’s most weak kids.”
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RUFTs’ contracts and operations had been beforehand overseen by the USA Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID). Nonetheless, oversight now lies with the State Division after USAID merged into the company in February, largely influenced by then-Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) head Elon Musk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies earlier than the Senate Committee on Overseas Relations listening to to look at the president’s proposed finances request for fiscal 12 months 2026 for the Division of State on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, Could 20, 2025. (AP Picture/Jose Luis Magana)
RUTFs are pre-packaged, nutrient-rich, ready-to-eat meals that assist stop malnutrition, primarily in kids. Some international locations even consult with RUTFs as a type of drugs.
The State Division’s feedback come after Secretary Rubio confronted questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill in a Could listening to, when Democratic Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island confronted Rubio in a heated alternate, saying the company was deliberately “freezing” RUTF help to international locations in want.
“It’s good to determine why they’re not transferring, as a result of it isn’t an obstacle for us,” Rubio fired again.
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Susan Schorr holds an anti-Elon Musk signal and an American flag in protest in entrance of the headquarters of the USA Company for Worldwide Growth on Feb. 3, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Pete Kiehart for The Washington Submit by way of Getty Photos)
Amo responded, “No, you must determine [that] out, sir,” and mentioned that the secretary “refused to make” a dedication to making sure efficient RUTF distribution.
“We’re going to proceed to do meals help,” Rubio answered. “We’re going to do extra meals help than some other nation on the planet, instances 10.”
A supply on the State Division revealed to Fox Information Digital that key partnerships with non-profit RUTF producers, MANA and Edesia, have been lively since March 2. Moreover, 1.4 million packing containers of RUTFs had been permitted on Could 26.
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Fox additionally obtained an inner doc and motion memorandum for Jeremy Lewin, a former DOGE worker now overseeing the transition of merging USAID with the State Division, from USAID’s Dianna Darney de Salcedo. The doc known as for pressing approval to maneuver meals commodities and RUFTs that had been saved in warehouses to be shipped to be used.
A employee removes the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth signal from their headquarters on Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photos)
The delicate however unclassified doc additionally revealed a request to approve a brand new Title II award, valued at $35 million, which sources say was a number of instances lower than initially estimated, to cowl the prices of warehouses, delivery abroad, transporting inland, programming and distribution.
Fox Information Digital spoke to MANA CEO Mark Moore, who outlined an in depth timeline of RUTF federal contract negotiations and the challenges the non-profit confronted as USAID merged into the State Division originally of 2025.
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At one level, earlier than the State Division and the Trump administration proposed contracts in Could, Moore instructed Fox Information, “We’re all taking a look at June and July operating out of those outdated contracts and saying we’re simply going to have to shut the doorways.” He famous that “if this new order didn’t come out, we’d actually be screwed going into the summer time.”
“It’s trending the fitting manner, and we’re thrilled,” Moore added.
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Fox Information Digital reached out to Rep. Gabe Amo and Edesia however didn’t obtain a response.
Preston Mizell is a author with Fox Information Digital protecting breaking information. Story ideas might be despatched to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston
