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3mo ago

India's First Transgender Clinics Close Following USAID Funding Freeze

The funding halt by the Trump administration disrupts healthcare services for nearly 5,000 people across three clinics in India.

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A USAID flag flutters outside, as the USAID building sits closed to employees after a memo was issued advising agency personnel to work remotely, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 3, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura//File Photo
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Overview

  • India's first three transgender-focused clinics, located in Hyderabad, Kalyan, and Pune, have ceased operations due to a funding freeze by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
  • The clinics, known as Mitr Clinics, provided critical services, including hormone therapy guidance, mental health counseling, HIV treatment, and legal aid.
  • The funding freeze stems from U.S. President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on foreign aid to align projects with his 'America First' policy.
  • A waiver from USAID allows life-saving activities, such as antiretroviral medication for HIV patients, to continue temporarily.
  • Organizers are seeking alternative funding sources to sustain the clinics, which served up to 5,000 people annually and employed members of the transgender community.