BRASILANDIA, Brazil — The recent decision to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is expected to significantly hinder various initiatives across South America, particularly those related to humanitarian aid in Colombia, conservation projects in Brazil, and coca eradication efforts in Peru. These countries have historically received priority support from the U.S. government.
While there may be some resumption of foreign aid after the 90-day pause mandated by former President Donald Trump, numerous projects that have benefited from USAID funding are feared to be in jeopardy. Many of these projects address issues Trump has characterized as ideological, such as climate change and advocacy for minority and women’s rights. This sentiment has left several beneficiaries anxious about the future of their initiatives.
Colombia, being the leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid in South America, has specifically felt the impact of these cuts. Recent USAID funding has provided crucial emergency aid to over 2.8 million Venezuelans who fled the severe economic crisis in their home country. In the year 2024, USAID has allocated approximately $45 million to the United Nations World Food Programme to assist those in dire need.
The termination of U.S. humanitarian aid in Colombia and Brazil poses a bleak outlook for Venezuelan migrants. Adding to their hardships, the Trump administration recently rescinded a temporary immigration status allowing around 600,000 Venezuelans to live in the U.S. This decision could lead to deportations commencing in approximately two months.
According to Bram Ebus, a consultant at the International Crisis Group in Bogota, these funding cuts will adversely affect precarious populations in Latin America, including millions of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. These grassroots organizations rely on funding to deliver essential services such as food and guidance. Ebus cautioned that without immediate resumption of aid, vulnerable migrants might become easy prey for criminal and armed groups exploiting their dire situations.
Despite the substantial aid the U.S. provides to Colombia, President Gustavo Petro has voiced concerns about the nature of this assistance. He criticized the dependence on U.S. funding, stating that hundreds of immigration officials tasked with border security are supported by American money, which he refers to as “poison.” He further asserted that Colombia must rely on its own financial resources.
In 2024, the agency had already funneled nearly $385 million into Colombia. Former President Trump remarked that closing down USAID was overdue, while Elon Musk, who is guiding budget cuts within the current administration, described the agency’s operations as overseen by “radical left lunatics.”
USAID’s primary initiative in Brazil is the Partnership for the Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity, focusing on safeguarding the environment and uplifting Indigenous communities. This partnership has been crucial, especially since about two-thirds of the planet’s largest rainforest lies within Brazil.
One of the significant beneficiaries of USAID funding, the Amazon-based Roraima Indigenous Council, currently serves around 60,000 individuals within the territory of the Yanomami tribe, an area greater than the size of Greece. Recent funding has been directed towards diversifying income sources, enhancing family farming practices, and adapting to climate change. However, the organization recently faced financial difficulties that compelled it to lay off staff and cancel programs due to the looming threat of more funding cuts.
Edinho Macuxi, the leader of the Council, expressed his concerns about the jeopardy these partnerships face, emphasizing the importance of continued support from USAID for the sustenance and autonomy of Indigenous peoples. He urged President Trump to maintain funding, underscoring that these Indigenous groups play a pivotal role in conserving the forest, which benefits not just Brazil but the global community.
In recent years, USAID has also championed sustainable fishing initiatives in the Amazon, such as the managed fishing of the pirarucu fish. Grants have facilitated the construction of a processing facility, allowing local fishers to operate legally and helping restore an endangered species while providing essential income for local communities.
In total, USAID disbursed $22.6 million to Brazil in 2024, with a substantial portion allocated towards environmental preservation, particularly in the Amazon, which plays a vital role in regulating atmospheric carbon.
In Peru, approximately $135 million was budgeted by the humanitarian agency for 2024, aimed at combating cocaine production through the promotion of alternative crops like coffee and cacao, a commitment in place since the 1980s. As the second-largest global cocaine producer, Peru has a lot at stake regarding U.S. partnership programs.
Peru’s Premier Gustavo Adrianzén affirmed that the nation will persist with its crop substitution strategies, regardless of U.S. funding. The Peruvian National Commission for Development and Life Without Drugs (DEVIDA) opted not to respond to comments regarding the impact of the U.S. administration’s funding freeze at this time.
A former head of DEVIDA, Ricardo Soberón, suggested that the pause in USAID’s operations offers an opportunity to reevaluate a partnership that has not yielded the expected effectiveness. He reflected on Bolivia’s experience after expelling USAID in 2013, stating that it achieved greater success in curbing cocaine production independently of U.S. involvement. The lack of U.S. conditions has enabled Bolivia to foster more efficient social control policies under challenging circumstances.
