The Trump administration has accused Somali officials of destroying a World Food Program warehouse containing US-funded food aid.
Published on January 8, 2026
The United States says it has suspended all aid to Somalia’s government, alleging that officials destroyed a World Food Program warehouse full of financed food aid.
In social media Post On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump’s administration alleged that Somali authorities had seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid that was meant for Somalis in need.
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“The US is concerned by reports that Somali federal government officials destroyed a US-funded World Food Program (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid for vulnerable Somalis,” the post said.
“The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy on waste, theft and the diversion of life-saving aid.”
The announcement was made on a social media platform representing the US State Department’s Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom.
Somali authorities have not yet responded to allegations of aid theft.
Still, the draconian measures continue a recent trend under the Trump administration. In recent months, President Trump has tended to criticize Somalis United States and kept restrictions on Somalis seeking to enter the US.
His administration has stepped up airstrikes targeting armed groups within Somalia itself.
Notably, at a December cabinet meeting, Trump personally launched racist attacks on the Somali community in America, saying they were “destroying America”. He also attacked Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Somalia, who came to America as a child refugee.
“If we keep picking up trash in our country, we’re going down the wrong path,” Trump said at the Dec. 2 meeting.
“Ilhan Omar is trash, just trash. Her friends are trash. These are not people who work. These are not people who say, ‘Let’s go, let’s make this place nice.’ These are people who do nothing but complain.”
As part of his disdain, Trump cited a fraud scandal in the Midwestern state of Minnesota, which accused some members of the large Somali community there of wrongdoing.
White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt has since indicated that Trump may use denaturalization — the revocation of US citizenship. As “a tool”. To penalize Somali Americans involved in the fraud scheme.
The Trump administration has also stepped up immigration enforcement raids in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the largest city. Somali community In the US.
The Trump administration has dramatically reversed America Humanitarian aid since returning to the White House in 2025, and it is unclear how much aid would be affected by the aid suspension.
Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, gave about $770 million in aid to projects in Somalia, but only a small portion went to the Somali government.
In announcing Wednesday’s aid freeze, the US State Department signaled that aid could resume – but only with an acknowledgment of responsibility from the Somali government.
“Resuming any aid will depend on the Somali federal government taking responsibility for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.”