Cindy McCain, the prominent head of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and widow of the late Senator John McCain, is recovering after suffering a mild stroke earlier this week. The humanitarian organization announced the news on Thursday, October 10, 2025, emphasizing that McCain, 71, is expected to make a full recovery and will temporarily step back from her duties to focus on recuperation.
According to the Associated Press, McCain will be traveling from Rome—where the WFP is headquartered—to her home state of Arizona for her recovery period. Doctors have advised that she should rest for four to six weeks before resuming her role as the executive director of the world’s largest humanitarian agency. During her absence, Carl Skau, the WFP’s deputy executive director, will oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations.
In a statement shared by the World Food Program, McCain expressed gratitude for the care she received abroad. “I want to thank the medical staff in Italy for the excellent treatment I received,” she said. “My recovery is progressing well thanks to their outstanding care.”
McCain’s leadership at the WFP began in March 2023, following her appointment after a notable stint as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. agencies for food and agriculture under President Joe Biden. Her selection to head the agency marked a significant moment, as she became the public face of an organization that, according to the WFP, provides assistance to nearly 150 million people across 87 countries in 2025. The agency has been lauded for its bipartisan support in the United States, a rare feat among U.N. bodies.
Her tenure has been marked by a series of global crises, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. McCain has been especially vocal about food insecurity in conflict zones. After a trip to Gaza in late August 2025, she spoke candidly about the dire situation there. As reported by the Associated Press, she stated, “It was very evident that there isn’t enough food in the Palestinian territory.” McCain also shared that she had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Her comments followed a grim warning from the world’s leading authority on food crises, which declared that Gaza’s largest city was in the grip of famine—a crisis likely to worsen without a ceasefire and the lifting of restrictions on aid. McCain didn’t mince words about what she witnessed on the ground: “I personally met mothers and children who were starving in Gaza,” she told the Associated Press. “It is real and it is happening now.”
McCain’s advocacy for vulnerable populations stretches back decades. She has served on the board of Operation Smile, a nonprofit dedicated to treating facial deformities in children worldwide, with visits to countries such as India, Morocco, and Vietnam. Her humanitarian work, both in and outside the WFP, has made her a respected figure across political and international lines.
Her path to leadership at the World Food Program was shaped by her political journey. McCain, a lifelong Republican, broke ranks with her party in 2020 to endorse Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. This move, widely covered by the Associated Press and other outlets, was particularly significant given former President Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of her late husband’s military service. Her endorsement made her a key surrogate for Biden and underscored her willingness to cross partisan divides for causes she believes in.
At the WFP, McCain succeeded David Beasley, a former South Carolina governor who led the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic and the global food crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Under Beasley’s leadership, the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, recognized for being “a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.” McCain has continued this legacy, steering the WFP through the turbulent waters of ongoing conflicts, climate change, and rising humanitarian needs.
In her statement on Thursday, McCain voiced confidence in her team’s ability to maintain the agency’s critical mission during her absence. “I have full confidence in my leadership team’s ability to stay laser-focused on delivering urgently needed food assistance to the more than 100 million people WFP is working to serve across 87 countries,” she said. “The fight against hunger has never been more critical, and I am incredibly proud of the work our teams do every day. I look forward to being back in the field soon—alongside WFP teams—pushing back against famine and supporting communities in need.”
The World Food Program’s work remains especially urgent in 2025. With nearly 150 million people depending on its aid, the agency is on the front lines of responding to the world’s most pressing humanitarian emergencies, from war zones to regions devastated by climate disasters. The organization’s ability to operate across such a vast landscape of need is a testament to the dedication of its staff and leadership, a point McCain underscored in her remarks.
As McCain steps away temporarily, the WFP will continue its mission under the stewardship of Carl Skau. The agency’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity in conflict areas such as Gaza and Ukraine are expected to remain a top priority, with Skau and the leadership team drawing on the momentum and vision McCain has established.
For those who have followed McCain’s career, her resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges comes as no surprise. Her commitment to humanitarian causes, willingness to cross political divides, and hands-on approach to leadership have defined her tenure at the WFP. The organization’s statement and her own words reflect a leader determined to return to the field as soon as possible, ready to continue the fight against hunger on a global scale.
As the world watches her recovery, the impact of her leadership—and the urgency of the mission she champions—remains at the forefront. The coming weeks will see the WFP navigating ongoing crises without its chief at the helm, but with a clear mandate and the support of a seasoned team. McCain’s anticipated return is a reminder of both the personal and collective resilience required to confront the world’s most daunting humanitarian challenges.
