Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency cuts MBG budget and refocuses beneficiaries

Sudaryono was sworn in as head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and pledged transparency for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, stating he and his family own no MBG kitchens. The agency announced that the MBG budget for 2026 has been reduced from the planned Rp 268 trillion to Rp 229 trillion, with the possibility of further cuts after a government‑mandated review of governance and beneficiary data. President Prabowo Subianto gave BGN one month to improve program management, including a refocusing of the 62.7 million current beneficiaries and the removal of some schools from the distribution list. BGN is also tightening standards for food‑safety, evaluating overlapping service units, and auditing the procurement of 21,000 electric motorcycles, which were paid for with state funds, not corrupt proceeds. The agency’s coordination with the ministries of Food, Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for Food Security aims to prioritize quality over numerical targets. International partners, such as Brazil, have offered soybean supplies to support MBG, while civil‑society groups warn of potential conflicts of interest in the agency’s leadership.