Taiwan Presidential Office budget cuts halt mooncake orders for sheltered workshops

A political controversy has emerged in Taiwan following the freezing of the Presidential Office's state affairs expenses in the 2026 central budget. This budget cut has reportedly prevented the Presidential Office from placing its customary Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake orders with 37 sheltered workshops that employ people with disabilities.

Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Weng Hsiao-ling proposed the reduction of these expenses, leading to accusations from political opponents. KMT Taipei City Councilor Qin Huizhu has demanded transparency from the Presidential Office, asking for specific details regarding the original order quantities, unit prices, and the distribution of the 15,000 mooncake boxes. Qin noted that some workshops claimed they never received formal orders, only inquiries, raising questions about the office's credibility.

In response to the situation, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced a donation of 300,000 TWD to purchase mooncakes from the workshops. While local leaders have stepped in to provide support, critics argue that individual donations cannot fully compensate for the loss of the large-scale institutional orders.