UN Appoints U.S. Agriculture Official Luke Lindberg as New WFP Chief

The UN appoints U.S. agriculture official Luke Lindberg to lead the World Food Program, aiming to address global hunger amid funding challenges.

Editorial Desk

September 20, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — The United Nations has announced the appointment of U.S. agriculture official Luke Lindberg as the new head of the World Food Program (WFP), a critical agency tasked with addressing global hunger and food insecurity.

Lindberg, currently serving as the undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will replace Cindy McCain as executive director of the Rome-based WFP. His appointment comes as the agency faces significant financial constraints in its mission to assist millions affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and crises worldwide.

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The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu jointly announced the decision following confirmation from the WFP board. Lindberg’s role is expected to be pivotal as the WFP strives to support 110 million people this year despite funding cuts that have limited its reach to 266 million individuals facing acute hunger.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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