CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga (WSAV) -- A pause on President Donald Trump's plan to put U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) workers on paid leave isn't easing concerns locally, as humanitarian groups are worried if they will be on the chopping block soon.
Mana Nutrition depends heavily on the USAID to feed around 2 million children overseas with a peanut and milk mixture.
“What concerns us is the future humanitarian funding,” James Holt, warehouse manager said. “What's that going to look like?”
Trump administration’s push to cut federal spending, possibly shutting down USAID, could leave the nonprofit in a bind. CEO Mark Moore got a taste of it firsthand last month, receiving a shocking notice.
“The 29th, we got an email from our contracting officer,” Moore said. “He just notified us that there was going to be a pause in all USAID contracts, which is a big deal for us. We didn't get a lot of information about what that pause meant, but it was called a stop work order. So, it just said, hey, whatever you're doing right now, stop.”
Moore said the pause lasted for about a week. More than 100 employees, between warehouses located in Fitzgerald and Pooler Georgia, are currently back at work.
However, that doesn’t get rid of the ongoing uncertainty for the employees and the people they feed everyday as they wait for the administration’s next steps.
“We are nervous that things could radically change. If they do this, apply to these severely, acutely malnourished kids who are in some of the world's most fragile countries,” Moore explained. “It will stop.”
He continued, “So, it is a big deal, and it is urgent and critical.”
Moore said they hope the government can come to some sort of an agreement, so they can continue their work which has had an enormous impact on children across the world.