Can This Georgia Factory Survive DOGE?

“The U.S. authorities hasn’t really paid us because the finish of December. We’ve about $12 million that we’ve delivered. We surprise if that’s — is the U.S. authorities nonetheless good? Is their phrase nonetheless good?” Simply weeks after he took workplace, President Trump took goal at U.S.A.I.D. “The entire thing is a fraud. Little or no, little or no being put to good use.” However his mission to chop international support spending may price 1000’s of jobs at dwelling. “Right here we’ve sugar popping out of Florida, generally from Tennessee. We’ve peanuts from Georgia, clearly. We’ve canola oil from North Dakota. We’ve milk powder from Texas proper now.” This manufacturing unit in Fitzgerald, Ga., makes peanut paste, which fits all over the world to avoid wasting the lives of ravenous kids. “Youngsters who’re actually ravenous, severely, acutely malnourished. 1.2 million youngsters a yr.” Solely two U.S. corporations make it, and MANA Diet is considered one of them. Now, their nonprofit enterprise, and the 112 jobs it supplies right here in Fitzgerald, are in danger. For greater than a decade, the operation relied closely on U.S.A.I.D. funding. “So final yr, 90 % of our funding got here from U.S.A.I.D.” It’s unclear simply how a lot cash DOGE has saved from the federal finances. However on this very Republican county, staff may pay the value. “I used to be born right here in Fitzgerald, raised right here all my life. I used to be simply on the lookout for more cash, higher pay. However once I acquired right here and came upon what we do — the mission is to feed the youngsters. This place right here is required.” Within the early 2000s, Fitzgerald misplaced a big automobile battery producer and railroad jobs, and was reeling economically. “Actually sort of acquired punched within the mouth. Unemployment went from in all probability 4 % to about 15, 16 %.” Then in 2011, MANA opened its first manufacturing unit right here. Two years in the past, they introduced plans to quadruple manufacturing. “We hoped to turn into the starvation resolution capital of the world.” “This isn’t about eliminating international support. There are issues that we do by means of U.S.A.I.D. that we must always proceed to do.” However in late February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a 3rd of MANA’s contracts, saying they weren’t within the nationwide curiosity. Per week later, they have been reinstated. The back-and-forth has left shipments stranded and MANA’s enterprise companions on edge. “There’s nonetheless plenty of uncertainty. We’ve obtained plenty of calls. Peanut shellers, suppliers saying, ‘Are you continue to in enterprise? Are you good for these contracts?’ Speaking to our banks, ‘Is our line of credit score nonetheless good to us if our one buyer isn’t paying?’” It’s nonetheless unclear what the long-term results is likely to be for this group. “Effectively, even a few of our staff, they voted with this administration. You possibly can inform who did vote that method as a result of they will’t maintain it in now. They’re fearful.” “I can’t assist however suppose the president has a technique, and we really feel like we’re going to be taken care of. I absolutely hope so.” “My hope is that the administration may have the ethical creativeness to protect the pursuits and the finances of the American individuals, but in addition proceed to feed the world’s poorest.” “Are we fearful? Considerably. However we’re praying.”