The State Department says its destruction of 500 metric tons of emergency food aid that was stored in a warehouse in the Middle East was required because it had expired.

The Trump administration has given the green light for nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food to be destroyed after allowing the aid to reach its expiration date, according to a report by the Atlantic.

Despite warnings from lawmakers, nearly 500 tonnes of vital aid expired and were destroyed as Congress codifies billions in spending reductions.