Closing USAID: How Trump’s move impacts global alliances

Key Concepts

• US Aid: The United States Agency for International Development, a now-defunct governmental agency responsible for international development assistance.
• PEPFAR: The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a US government initiative to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• Development Aid: Financial and technical assistance provided by developed countries to developing countries to promote economic growth, improve living standards, and reduce poverty.
• Obligatory Military Spending: Government expenditure allocated to defense and military operations.
• Lancet Study (2024): A medical journal publication detailing the life-saving impact of US aid spending between 2001 and 2021, and projecting potential mortality increases with funding cuts.

The Closure of US Aid Under the Trump Administration

The video report focuses on the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (US Aid) following Donald Trump’s return to office in 2025. The agency, initially targeted for closure during a potential second Trump term, was effectively terminated, resulting in the firing of over 5,600 employees by the end of March. Senator Marco Rubio previously characterized US Aid as “a bloated waste of taxpayer money,” and expressed frustration with the lack of transparency regarding its programs while in Congress, stating, “When we were in Congress, we couldn't even get answers to basic questions about programs that will not continue.”

Budgetary Shifts and Funding Levels

The report details the budgetary history of US Aid. In Trump’s first year in office, spending was $21 billion, rising to $26 billion in 2020. Under the Biden administration, funding increased further, reaching $30 billion in 2021 and $35 billion in 2024. However, with Trump’s return in 2025, US Aid’s obligations were drastically reduced to $16 billion. This contrasts sharply with the $1.45 trillion allocated to obligatory military spending in the same year.

Impact on Global Health and Development

Development experts argue that US Aid historically played a crucial role in improving global living standards, citing successes in eradicating diseases like smallpox and malaria, controlling agricultural pests, and increasing lifespans. A recent study published in The Lancet Medical Journal quantified this impact, finding that US aid spending between 2001 and 2021 saved 92 million lives overall, including over 30 million children under the age of five.

Projected Mortality Rates with Reduced Funding

The Lancet study also projects a grim future if US aid funding is not restored. The report states that unless funding is reinstated, an estimated 14.1 million people, including 4.5 million children under the age of five, could die by 2030. This projection highlights the potentially devastating consequences of the funding cuts.

The Fate of PEPFAR and Reactions to the Closure

While US Aid was largely dismantled, the PEPFAR initiative, focused on combating HIV/AIDS, was absorbed into the State Department. However, the closure of US Aid sparked significant public outcry, particularly regarding the potential impact on HIV/AIDS programs. Andrew Nazzios, who led US Aid during George W. Bush’s presidency, described the agency’s demise as “shameful,” noting the disruption caused to health ministries reliant on US Aid’s technical support: “I was told a number of health ministries are in chaos in many areas of the world because they were dependent on technical support from the aid missions now and they're angry that all of a sudden we just walked away from.”

Arguments for Reform vs. Elimination

Supporters of US Aid acknowledge the Trump administration’s right to seek reforms within the agency but contend that outright elimination was not the appropriate solution. Rosalyn Jordan, reporting for Al Jazeera, concludes that while reform may have been warranted, “killing US Aid wasn’t the way to fix it.”

Synthesis

The report paints a stark picture of the consequences of drastically reducing US development aid. While concerns about efficiency and transparency existed, the evidence presented – particularly the Lancet study – suggests that US Aid had a substantial positive impact on global health and well-being. The closure of the agency and the associated funding cuts are projected to lead to a significant increase in preventable deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations. The report highlights a fundamental tension between prioritizing military spending and investing in international development assistance.