Trump's USAID Freeze Shuts Down Critical Programs, Sparks Global Fallout

The 90-day suspension of USAID funding is causing widespread job losses in the U.S., endangering global health programs, and leaving vulnerable nations scrambling for alternatives.

President Trump's executive order halting USAID operations for a 90-day review has resulted in over 12,700 job losses among U.S. contractors, with North Carolina particularly affected.
The freeze has disrupted lifesaving health programs globally, including HIV treatment and immunization initiatives in Africa, with UNAIDS warning of millions of potential AIDS-related deaths.
The European Union and other global donors have stated they cannot fully replace the $72 billion in annual U.S. foreign aid, leaving critical gaps in health, humanitarian, and climate programs.
Haiti, heavily reliant on U.S. aid, has seen clinics close, food insecurity worsen, and gang violence increase, with experts warning of long-term destabilization.
The freeze has sparked legal challenges, with a federal judge temporarily lifting some restrictions, but uncertainty persists over the future of USAID-funded projects.