NPR examines debate over rumors of changes to U.S. food aid operations

"[R]umors ... that the White House is planning major changes in the way that the U.S. donates food to fight hunger in some of the world's poorest countries" have "set off an emotional debate" in Washington, D.C., NPR's "Morning Edition" reports. "America's policies on food aid are singularly generous -- and also unusually selfish. On the generous side, the U.S. spends roughly a billion-and-a-half dollars every year to send food abroad, far more than any other country," NPR writes, adding, "On the other hand, the rules for this program, known as Food for Peace, ensure that much of the money stays in American hands." NPR describes the potential changes and includes comments from supporters and opponents, including Andrew Natsios, former USAID administrator under President George W. Bush; Gawain Kripke, policy director for Oxfam America; and Jeffrey Grieco, International Relief and Development's chief of public and government affairs. "The Obama administration is expected to release the actual details of its food aid proposal next week," the news service notes (Charles, 4/4).