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2mo ago

Global Fallout Deepens as USAID Faces Shutdown and Aid Freeze

The Trump administration's decision to halt foreign aid and dismantle USAID disrupts critical health, humanitarian, and development programs worldwide.

A USAID logo on a box at a warehouse following looting in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
An American flag and USAID flag fly outside the USAID building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon/File Photo
The USAID flag flies outside the agency's headquarters building in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2024.
Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington.

Overview

  • President Trump signed an executive order initiating a 90-day freeze on foreign aid and closed USAID, impacting programs in over 160 countries.
  • Key health initiatives, including PEPFAR, which has saved millions of lives, have been severely disrupted, risking a resurgence of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
  • The funding freeze threatens global food security, with $489 million in food aid at risk of spoilage and millions facing hunger in conflict-stricken regions.
  • USAID's shutdown has led to mass layoffs of aid workers globally, jeopardizing livelihoods and delaying critical responses to crises like famine and pandemics.
  • Critics warn the U.S. risks losing global influence, creating opportunities for rival powers like China and Russia to expand their reach.