The inquiry by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General is focused on a $30 million grant awarded to the foundation in June 2025, the Financial Times reported.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was created as an alternative aid distribution mechanism that largely bypassed United Nations-led humanitarian operations in the territory during the Gaza conflict.

According to the report, investigators are examining how the funding was sourced and spent, including procurement practices for food supplies and transportation services provided through private contractors.

Sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that the foundation paid significantly higher prices for food than previous U.S.-funded humanitarian programs in the region.

A spokesperson for the foundation denied knowledge of any investigation and defended the organization’s purchasing practices, saying most food was procured locally at reasonable prices. The spokesperson acknowledged, however, that transportation costs were unusually high because of the operational risks associated with active conflict zones.

The State Department’s Office of Inspector General declined to confirm or deny the existence of a formal investigation but said it had launched an audit earlier this year into U.S. food assistance efforts in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The foundation faced criticism soon after its launch in May 2025 over its opaque financing structure and its reliance on private military contractors at aid distribution sites.

Its executive director and deputy director resigned before operations officially began as international criticism mounted over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

The report said Gaza health authorities estimated that around 1,000 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while attempting to access aid near distribution centers operated by the foundation, while United Nations agencies warned that famine conditions were spreading across the territory.

According to the Financial Times, some U.S. officials privately questioned how the foundation operated after the Trump administration waived several audit and oversight requirements typically imposed on federally funded humanitarian organizations.

Democratic lawmakers also requested explanations from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the approval process for the funding and the safeguards attached to the aid program.

The organization suspended operations in October 2025, citing funding shortages, despite claiming it had distributed more than 187 million meals in Gaza, a figure reportedly disputed by some Israeli officials.

Moore succeeds Jake Wood, who resigned last week, while the Boston Consulting Group has officially withdrawn from the project, marking a period of transition for GHF.

With a background serving as a liaison between evangelical Christian communities and former U.S. President Donald Trump, Moore also serves as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Known for his outspoken stance on religious tolerance, Moore regularly engages with Middle Eastern leaders, positioning him as a key figure in interfaith dialogue.

In his first public statement as executive chairman, Moore emphasized the foundation’s core mission, “GHF believes that serving the people of Gaza with dignity and compassion must be the top priority.”

He urged caution against “sharing unverified information from sources that have repeatedly issued demonstrably false reports,” addressing ongoing daily claims of lethal violence at GHF sites — allegations the organization firmly denies. “False reporting of violence at our sites has a chilling effect on the local population and we can think of no greater disservice to a community in dire need.”

Shortly before the appointment was made public, Moore revealed via his social media platform X that he had “several really encouraging meetings with the [Red Cross] in recent weeks.”

While the Red Cross has not formally agreed to join the GHF initiative, Moore expressed confidence in their working relationship, stating, “We don’t always see eye-to-eye, but we have always found ways to collaborate meaningfully together. We trust one another.”

Moore’s leadership arrives at a critical moment as GHF continues to navigate operational challenges amid complex geopolitical tensions in the region.