The recent decision by the Trump administration to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has sparked significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers and has raised concerns about the extent of influence wielded by billionaire supporter Elon Musk over government operations.
As the largest global contributor of foreign aid, the United States outpaces all other nations; nevertheless, several European countries commit a higher percentage of their budgets towards aid. While funding directed towards Africa greatly surpasses the approximately $2 billion allocated to Latin America every year, both Democratic and Republican leaderships have historically prioritized spending in the Western Hemisphere.
Exploring USAID’s contributions across the globe reveals its various impactful projects, such as protecting the Amazon rainforest and combating cocaine production in South America. The agency has played a vital role in supplying humanitarian aid in Colombia, conserving biodiversity in the Brazilian Amazon, as well as supporting coca eradication initiatives in Peru. Recently, USAID has provided emergency assistance to over 2.8 million Venezuelans who have fled their country due to severe economic hardships, with about $45 million transferred to the U.N. World Food Program specifically for this purpose in 2024.
In Brazil, USAID runs its most substantial endeavor, the Partnership for the Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity, which aims to conserve the rainforest while enhancing the living standards of Indigenous groups and local communities. Additionally, part of the $135 million allocated to Peru for 2024 will be used to finance alternative crops, such as coffee and cacao, as a way to lessen drug production, a focus of USAID since the early 1980s.
Moving on to Africa, last year the U.S. provided more than $6.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to the sub-Saharan region. However, following the announcement from the Trump administration, clinics funded by a renowned U.S. AIDS program found their doors closed to patients in need. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, one of the most successful foreign aid initiatives globally, has played a crucial role in saving over 25 million lives, predominantly in Africa.
South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi expressed confusion and concern over the aid freeze, noting that U.S. funding accounts for nearly 20% of the $2.3 billion necessary annually for his country’s HIV/AIDS initiatives under PEPFAR, placing this significant health response at risk.
Meanwhile, the absence of U.S. aid has hindered organizations from providing volunteers with food and transportation allowances, vital to keeping girls in school and preventing early marriages. In Sudan, where civil conflict has led to outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and measles, the freeze on assistance places 600,000 individuals at heightened risk for these diseases, according to an anonymous official.
In Mexico, the Peace Oasis of the Holy Spirit Amparito shelter in Villahermosa has faced dire consequences due to the funding cuts. The shelter, which assists those fleeing violence and persecution, was forced to let go of its only physician, a social worker, and a child psychologist due to the lack of funding. In response, the shelter is appealing to the Mexican government for alternative financial solutions through United Nations-managed programs to support the transportation of migrants wishing to return to their home countries.
On another front, U.S. support in Ukraine has facilitated various aid efforts, including covering fuel expenses for evacuation vehicles, salaries for aid workers, and legal and psychological assistance for evacuees. A concert hall repurposed as a refuge for civilians escaping the ongoing Russian attacks was heavily reliant on this funding, with 60% of its $7,000 monthly operation costs previously covered by U.S. contributions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced concerns, predicting a reduction of between $300 million to $400 million in overall aid, particularly impacting the energy sector, which has been targeted in the conflict.
