The Trump administration is poised to make sweeping cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), significantly impacting the nation's support for global health initiatives. According to a comprehensive 281-page spreadsheet obtained by The New York Times, the administration aims to end financial backing for Gavi, a pivotal organization responsible for supplying vaccines to children in low-income countries, a move that could jeopardize the lives of millions who depend on routine immunizations.
Details within the spreadsheet suggest that while some assistance for H.I.V. and tuberculosis treatment will be preserved, funding for other critical efforts, such as malaria prevention, will see dramatic reductions. This is part of a broader reassessment of U.S. foreign aid priorities, as highlighted in documents submitted to Congress by the U.S.A.I.D.
The release of these documents marks a profound shift in the U.S. stance toward its role in global public health, reflecting an intent to move away from decades of established support to the developing world. The cover letter accompanying the spreadsheet illustrates the severe downsizing of U.S.A.I.D., revealing that of its original workforce, only 869 out of more than 6,000 employees remain active amid these reductions.
In total, the proposed changes indicate that the administration plans to continue only 898 of U.S.A.I.D.’s programs while terminating a staggering 5,341. The total value of the remaining programs could reach $78 billion; however, only $8.3 billion remains available for new disbursements. This represents a drastic departure from the $40 billion annual expenditure historically allocated for foreign aid, raising concerns about the long-term implications for public health in developing countries.
