USA's Secretary of State announces termination of USAID aid program
The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has announced the end of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as of July 1, 2025, with foreign aid management to be transferred to the U.S. Department of State. This decision, projected to result in the termination of thousands of contracts and staff positions, is causing alarm among global health experts.
A recent study, published in the prestigious journal "The Lancet," suggests that the drastic reduction in U.S. foreign aid programs could lead to more than 14 million additional deaths over the next five years. The study, conducted by researchers from Barcelona and Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, examined mortality data from over 130 countries and regions between 2001 and 2021.
The study found that the termination of USAID programs, which provide technical assistance, policy reform, institutional strengthening, training, equipment, and infrastructure support in over 100 developing countries, will likely disrupt ongoing health programs, including those focused on infectious disease prevention and health sector strengthening.
Moreover, the cancellation of food aid programs, such as the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program, compromises food security and child nutrition, increasing vulnerability to malnutrition-related mortality. The loss of professional expertise and networks within USAID is also a significant concern, as the dismissal of over 8,000 staff means a potential delay or diminishment in the effectiveness of future aid efforts.
Critics argue that the closure of USAID may exacerbate socio-economic challenges that contribute to poor health outcomes, including higher mortality rates due to preventable diseases and inadequate healthcare access. This, in turn, could potentially increase global instability and anti-American sentiment.
The Trump administration began dismantling the US development agency in early February, with Rubio announcing this approach has raised legal concerns. Of the original approximately 6,200 projects, only about 1,000 will continue under the supervision of the State Department.
However, it is important to note that the study did not consider the potential impact of alternative aid organizations on mortality rates, nor did it evaluate the effectiveness of USAID’s programs prior to the cuts. Furthermore, the study did not account for the ongoing management of USAID projects by the State Department.
Despite these caveats, the potential impact on global health and mortality rates is a matter of significant concern. The prioritization of U.S. geopolitical interests over broad humanitarian goals likely narrows aid scope, reducing investments in essential health infrastructure and services that have saved millions of lives over previous decades.
The US development agency USAID, one of the largest organizations of its kind worldwide, coordinated numerous aid measures globally, including AIDS relief and reconstruction in war-torn regions. Its end marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, with potential far-reaching consequences for global health and development.
Sources: [1] The Lancet, "Impact of USAID's proposed cuts on global health and mortality: a modelling study." [2] Rubio's blog post, "The Real Story on USAID." [3] The New York Times, "U.S. to End USAID, Shifting Foreign Aid to State Department." [4] The Washington Post, "End of USAID could lead to millions of additional deaths, study warns."
- The study published in The Lancet, titled "Impact of USAID's proposed cuts on global health and mortality: a modelling study," suggests that the termination of USAID's foreign aid programs could result in over 14 million additional deaths over the next five years.
- The policy-and-legislation surrounding the end of USAID and the transfer of foreign aid management to the U.S. Department of State is a matter of significant concern in the general-news due to its potential impact on global health and mortality rates.
