Publication Date

Spring 2026

School

Helms School of Government

Major

Government: Politics and Policy

Keywords

Cargo Preference for Food Aid, CPFA, foreign assistance, U.S.-flag vessels, USAID, USDA, shipping requirements, humanitarian aid, food aid programs, food aid

Abstract

Cargo preference for food aid (CPFA) mandates that 50 percent of U.S. food aid shipments be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels (USFVs). However, only seven USFVs are equipped to accommodate bulk food aid, causing shipments to be sent on vessels not designed for such transport. This constraint increases operational costs by an average of 270 percent, delays delivery timelines, and consumes 30-50 percent of the food aid budget. As the American legislature stands in an important moment in foreign aid history when U.S. foreign assistance is being fundamentally restructured, this thesis argues that Congress should repeal CPFA and permit competitive bidding among domestic and international carriers, restoring coherence to humanitarian policy and maximizing the reach of every aid dollar.

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