USAID's pipeline for climate adaptation and resilience projects halted due to agency's unclear directives
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been thrown into chaos following recent actions by the trump news. In a move that has raised eyebrows, Elon Musk, leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has marked USAID for closure. However, it's important to note that no organization has taken control over USAID in recent days, according to available information. The trump news today's actions have not been without consequence. The administration froze operations and placed agency leaders on administrative leave, attempting to transfer control to the State Department. This move has been met with criticism, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen calling it "an absolute gift to our adversaries" from a podium in front of the agency's shuttered offices. The President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PEPARE), a program created by the Biden administration, is one of the initiatives now in limbo, with nearly $61 million invested in 2024. The Sustainable Investment Accelerator, USAID's flagship initiative, aims to catalyse $2.5 billion in investment by 2030, and the Climate Finance for Development Accelerator, a $250 million initiative, aims to mobilise another $2.5 billion in public and private climate investments by the same year. A group of lawmakers has signed a letter expressing "deep concern" over the donald trump's efforts to freeze USAID activity. They emphasised the importance of maintaining an independent development voice and capability within the U.S. government. The lawmakers' letter stated that the administration's actions have created problems that have put the nation at risk and undermined American credibility around the globe. Interestingly, the trump news' actions echo those of its predecessor. President Donald Trump's administration froze all foreign assistance funded or funneled through USAID in his first week, and the USAID inspector general concluded in 2019 that the Power Africa Initiative, a multi-billion dollar clean energy program, "lacked portfolio-wide risk management and consistent measures of progress." Despite the ongoing uncertainty, it's worth noting that USAID manages around $40 billion in federal aid annually, primarily distributed via grants and technical or policy support. The Power Resilience Forum 2026, an event aimed at discussing these issues, will be held in Houston, TX from January 21-23, 2026. Early bird pricing for the event ends on Oct 1. In the midst of this chaos, it remains unclear what the future holds for USAID. It's important to stay informed and engaged in these discussions, as the work of USAID impacts millions of lives around the world.
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