USAID Cuts Contracts Worldwide, Collapsing Services for Millions and Endangering Lives

In a move that has sent shockwaves across the global aid community, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has terminated contracts for numerous lifesaving programs worldwide. These cuts, part of the Trump administration’s efforts to align foreign aid with its “America First” agenda, have left millions of vulnerable people at risk, including those relying on HIV/AIDS treatment, tuberculosis (TB) care, and refugee support.

The Scope of the Cuts

The Trump administration’s decision to terminate over 90% of USAID programs was revealed in a February 25 court document. This follows a 90-day pause on all foreign aid ordered in January 2024 to assess whether projects aligned with U.S. policy goals. Despite initial assurances that lifesaving services would be exempt, major programs addressing HIV/AIDS, TB, and malnutrition have been affected.

Among the programs receiving termination notices are:

• UNAIDS
• Stop TB Partnership
• Scaling Up Nutrition
• Projects supporting forcibly displaced people

These cuts have left aid organizations scrambling to find alternative funding sources, with many forced to terminate contracts with local partners and scale back critical services.

Impact on Global Health Programs

The termination of USAID contracts has dealt a devastating blow to global health initiatives. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, confirmed that her organization would have to end contracts with 140 partners worldwide, many of which provide essential services like diagnosing TB patients and ensuring they stay on treatment.

Similarly, UNAIDS described the termination of its relationship with USAID as a “serious development” that would affect lifesaving services. The organization has requested more information from the U.S. government but has yet to receive clarity on the rationale behind the cuts.

Refugee and Displacement Programs Hit Hard

Refugee support programs have also been severely impacted. Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, expressed outrage after receiving over 20 termination notices for projects in countries like Sudan, Yemen, and Colombia.

“Not only are these terminations egregious breaches of contracts, but they endanger the lives of millions of the world’s most vulnerable people,” Slente said. She criticized the abrupt and unilateral nature of the decisions, calling the rationale behind them “unfathomable.”

South Africa’s HIV/AIDS Programs at Risk

South Africa, home to the world’s largest population of people living with HIV (approximately 8 million), faces a potential rollback of years of progress in combating the epidemic. The U.S. provides about 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS budget, funding crucial programs for testing, treatment, and prevention.

Linda-Gail Bekker, Chief Operating Officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, warned that the cuts would lead to lives lost and a resurgence of the epidemic. “We will see this epidemic walk back as a result of this,” she said.

Francois Venter, Executive Director of the Ezintsha Research Centre in Johannesburg, called the cuts a “devastating blow” for South Africa’s HIV response, noting that the affected programs were among the most efficient and effective in the country.

Broader Implications for Global Aid

The cuts extend beyond health programs, affecting organizations working on disability services, malaria prevention, and newborn health. Humanity & Inclusion, a nonprofit providing services to hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, saw half of its 30+ contracts with the U.S. government canceled.

Hannah Guedenet, the organization’s U.S. Executive Director, criticized the administration’s approach, stating, “If you want to cut funding, there’s a way to responsibly do that. And that is not what’s being done. This is complete disregard for human life.”

A Call for Accountability

The global aid community is calling for transparency and accountability from the U.S. government. Many organizations are urging the administration to reconsider its decision and reinstate funding for critical programs.

As Beatriz Grinsztejn, President of the International AIDS Society, put it, “The U.S. funding cuts are dismantling the system. HIV treatment is crumbling. TB services are collapsing.”

The termination of USAID contracts has left millions of people without access to lifesaving services, threatening decades of progress in global health and humanitarian aid. As organizations struggle to adapt, the international community must rally to fill the gaps left by these cuts and hold the U.S. government accountable for its actions.

For now, the future of global aid remains uncertain, with vulnerable populations bearing the brunt of these devastating decisions.

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