The Trump administration accused Somali officials of destroying a World Food Program warehouse that was storing U.S.-funded food aid.
Published January 8, 2026
The United States announced it was cutting off all aid to the Somali government after authorities destroyed a World Food Program warehouse full of food aid funded by the Somali government.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the administration of US President Donald Trump claimed that Somali authorities have seized 76 tons of donor-funded food aid intended for Somalis in need.
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“The United States is deeply concerned by reports that Somali federal government officials destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Program (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 tons of donor-funded food aid for vulnerable Somalis,” the post said.
“The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for the waste, theft, or diversion of lifesaving resources.”
The announcement was made on social media platforms on behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom.
Somali authorities have not yet responded to the allegations of aid theft.
Still, the harsh measures continue a recent trend under the Trump administration. In recent months, President Trump has become increasingly critical of Somalis living in the United States, imposing restrictions on Somalis seeking entry to the United States.
The regime has also stepped up airstrikes targeting armed groups inside Somalia.
Notably, at a Cabinet meeting in December, President Trump personally condemned racist attacks against Somali communities in the United States, saying they were “destroying America.” He also attacked Ilhan Omar, a Democratic congresswoman from Somalia who arrived in the United States as a child refugee.
“If we continue to bring trash into our country, we’re going to move in the wrong direction,” Trump said during the Dec. 2 meeting.
“Ilhan Omar is trash, just trash. Her friends are trash. They’re not the people who work. They’re not the people who say, ‘Come on, let’s make this place great.'” These are the people who complain. ”
As part of his blistering attack, President Trump cited a fraud scandal in the midwestern state of Minnesota, saying some members of the state’s large Somali community have been accused of wrongdoing.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt later suggested that President Trump may use denaturalization, or revocation of U.S. citizenship, as a “tool” to punish Somali Americans involved in the fraud scheme.
The Trump administration has also increased immigration enforcement raids in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the United States.
The Trump administration has sharply reduced U.S. humanitarian aid since returning to the White House in 2025, and it is unclear how much aid will be affected by the suspension.
President Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, had provided 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 U.S. State Department indicated it could resume aid only if Somalia’s government accepts responsibility.
“Resuming assistance depends on the Federal Government of Somalia taking responsibility for its unacceptable conduct and taking appropriate corrective action.”
