London – In a remarkable move, U.S. President Donald Trump enacted an executive order on January 24, 2025, that halts foreign aid for USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development).
USAID plays a crucial role in funding and supporting health services, disaster relief, and anti-poverty programs around the globe.
This executive order now puts the largest aid donor in a 90-day operational suspension under President Trump’s command.
Prior to this suspension, USAID employed over 10,000 people; many have since been placed on leave or have lost their positions.
Additionally, the agency’s counterterrorism staff have been ordered to refrain from reporting for duty, increasing the risk that aid could be misallocated.
The cessation of USAID funds to South Africa and other African nations could spark a humanitarian crisis, leaving millions dependent on HIV treatment without access to essential medications.
The interruption of USAID financial support is severely affecting humanitarian efforts worldwide, including initiatives aiding refugees in Myanmar and soup kitchens in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, among many others that have had to pause or cease operations.
Humanitarian groups like the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported that they were compelled to halt ongoing activities in roughly 20 countries.
According to Doctors of the World, they have been forced to close more than half of their hospitals in Syria.
Billionaire Elon Musk, tasked with reducing the size of the federal government, has voiced intentions to dismantle USAID, calling it “beyond repair.”
Friends of USAID indicate that Musk has allocated $40 million on Super Bowl advertisements to highlight what he perceives as USAID’s inefficiency.
For $40 million, USAID could provide vaccinations for 547,945 children worldwide, prevent the resurgence of diseases such as polio in the U.S., and protect children from potential disabilities.
This funding could also save 200,000 lives at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years.
Moreover, it could supply enough food aid from Georgia and Rhode Island to care for 880,000 severely malnourished children, among other advantages.
Oxfam America President and CEO, Abby Maxman, remarked, “USAID has been integral in every area of development and humanitarian assistance.”
Jens Laerke, the deputy spokesperson for OCHA, highlighted that “the U.S. government provided roughly 47 percent of the global humanitarian appeal last year.”
Given USAID’s absence, the EU may have to step in to fill the considerable void, as noted by the EU Commission spokesperson: “All members of the international community must fulfill their obligations.”
“The funding shortfall is escalating, leaving millions in urgent need. The EU cannot shoulder this burden alone.”
The 90-day suspension poses a significant disaster for countless vulnerable populations worldwide who will face heightened risks.
Nicholas Kristof, in his piece for the New York Times, encourages concerned individuals to “reach out to their congressional representatives and the White House to push for reforms in USAID instead of dismantling it.”
Unfortunately, the world’s poorest communities are already feeling the negative impacts of these decisions made by the wealthiest individuals.
