United Nations appoints U.S. agriculture official Luke Lindberg to lead World Food Programme

On Friday, September 18, 2026, the United Nations appointed Luke Lindberg, a U.S. agriculture official, as the new executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), based in Rome, Italy. Lindberg, nominated by President Donald Trump, will replace Cindy McCain, who stepped down in February due to health reasons. The WFP, the world's largest humanitarian agency, faces funding challenges and aims to help 110 million people this year amid acute hunger affecting 266 million worldwide. Lindberg currently serves as undersecretary for trade at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.