The three USDA programs cost more than two billion dollars a year and aim at tackling hunger and promoting growth in poor countries. Those are noble goals, but the programs suffer from serious practical flaws. US food aid can undermine agriculture in recipient countries and exacerbate conflicts in strife‐​torn regions.

Even in situations where food aid can reduce hunger, shipping US food abroad is an expensive way to help poor countries, particularly because of cargo preference rules requiring the use of US‐​flagged ships. It is also usually slower to ship US food to needy countries than to procure it locally near aid recipients.

As Congress tackles a major farm bill in coming months, it should consider repealing USDA’s food aid programs.

[Probably a great idea, but almost certainly doomed. These programs offer lawmakers lots of virtue-signal opportunities, and opposition to them allows challengers to accuse them of cruelty and apathy for the poor. — Ed]