Although they already knew that the meat reserves in the base warehouse were rapidly depleting, meat wasn't considered as essential as grain, so it was not given a high priority when classifying resource levels.
It was precisely for this reason that many people in the base used various reasonable and legal methods to consume large amounts of meat from the warehouse daily.
Only now, when the meat had fallen to a critical level, did the higher-ups start to pay attention and only recently began to discuss reevaluating the importance of meat.
This proposal had actually been passed today, but had not yet been publicly announced. If he could acquire a large amount of meat for the base at this time, it would certainly be an important feat.