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FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. State Department and Secretary Marco Rubio punched again at claims that contracts offering Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) were halted and affirmed the company will proceed its dedication to “delivering critical humanitarian aid.”
“As USAID transitions under the State Department, our commitment to delivering critical humanitarian aid remains steadfast and aligned with America’s foreign policy priorities,” a senior State Department professional instructed Fox News Digital in an unique observation.
“We are proud to continue working with our local partners to deliver life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic food. Most recently, an additional $50 million in RUTFs was approved. This is enough to nourish over one million of the world’s most vulnerable children.”
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RUFTs’ contracts and operations have been up to now overseen by way of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). However, oversight now lies with the State Department after USAID merged into the company in February, in large part influenced by way of then-Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies ahead of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations listening to to inspect the president’s proposed price range request for fiscal 12 months 2026 for the Department of State on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
RUTFs are pre-packaged, nutrient-rich, ready-to-eat foods that assist save you malnutrition, basically in kids. Some international locations even seek advice from RUTFs as a type of medication.
The State Department’s feedback come after Secretary Rubio confronted questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill in a May listening to, when Democratic Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island faced Rubio in a heated alternate, pronouncing the company used to be deliberately “freezing” RUTF support to international locations in want.
“You need to figure out why they’re not moving, because it isn’t an impediment 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 United States Agency for International Development on Feb. 3, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Pete Kiehart for The Washington Post by the use of Getty Images)
Amo answered, “No, you need to figure [that] out, sir,” and mentioned that the secretary “refused to make” a dedication to making sure efficient RUTF distribution.
“We’re going to continue to do food aid,” Rubio replied. “We’re going to do more food aid than any other country on the planet, times 10.”
A supply on the State Department published to Fox News Digital that key partnerships with non-profit RUTF manufacturers, MANA and Edesia, were energetic since March 2. Additionally, 1.4 million bins of RUTFs have been licensed on May 26.
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Fox additionally acquired an interior file and motion memorandum for Jeremy Lewin, a former DOGE worker now overseeing the transition of merging USAID with the State Department, from USAID’s Dianna Darney de Salcedo. The file referred to as for pressing approval to transport meals commodities and RUFTs that have been saved in warehouses to be shipped to be used.
A employee gets rid of the U.S. Agency for International Development signal from their headquarters on Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
The delicate however unclassified file additionally published a request to approve a brand new Title II award, valued at $35 million, which assets say used to be a number of instances lower than first of all estimated, to hide the prices of warehouses, delivery out of the country, transporting inland, programming and distribution.
Fox News Digital spoke to MANA CEO Mark Moore, who defined an in depth timeline of RUTF federal contract negotiations and the demanding situations the non-profit confronted as USAID merged into the State Department initially of 2025.
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At one level, ahead of the State Department and the Trump management proposed contracts in May, Moore instructed Fox News, “We’re all looking at June and July running out of these old contracts and saying we’re just going to have to close the doors.” He famous that “if this new order didn’t come out, we’d really be screwed going into the summer.”
“It is trending the right way, and we’re thrilled,” Moore added.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Rep. Gabe Amo and Edesia however didn’t obtain a reaction.
Preston Mizell is a author with Fox News Digital masking breaking information. Story guidelines can also be despatched to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston
