Overview
- The Goalkeepers Report projects up to 4.8 million under-five deaths this year linked to gaps in basic health services.
- Bill Gates attributes the reversal partly to the dismantling of USAID and wider U.S. and European aid cuts, calling the agency’s closure a “gigantic mistake.”
- The White House defends shifting assistance to align with U.S. interests and to promote partner self-sufficiency.
- On his first day in office, President Trump froze foreign aid for 90 days and moved to dissolve USAID, leading to thousands of dismissals, cancellation of about 80% of programs, and integration into the State Department.
- Gates warns recovery will take years and says he is pressing Trump to restore some support, noting reduced contributions to vaccine efforts such as Gavi.