After 64 years, USAID shuts down leaving 14 million lives at risk
A damning report by The Lancet warns of the consequences of USAID’s closure, projecting that 14 million people could die globally by 2030 due to the funding gap
The global humanitarian landscape is facing an unprecedented crisis following the United States' permanent shutdown of USAID, ending more than six decades of foreign assistance that has saved millions of lives in developing countries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the closure, stating that future aid will be channelled through the State Department and only support causes that align with American foreign policy under the Trump administration.
This signals a sharp break from the past, where USAID spearheaded global humanitarian efforts, especially in regions most affected by poverty and disease.
USAID’s departure is expected to cause devastating ripple effects, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, where communities relied on its programmes for food aid, medical care, and vaccinations. Key services, especially those targeting HIV/AIDS and malaria, now face major disruption.
In Kenya, several essential programmes have already ground to a halt due to the funding shortfall. The healthcare sector is among the hardest hit, with budget cuts affecting treatment availability, disease prevention efforts, and employment in aid-supported organizations.
A damning report by The Lancet warns of the consequences of USAID’s closure, projecting that 14 million people could die globally by 2030 due to the funding gap, with children under five accounting for nearly a third of the total. The report credits USAID with preventing 91 million deaths over the years, especially from treatable or preventable diseases.
Rubio dismissed concerns over the humanitarian fallout, arguing that the financial support had not advanced US interests. “Despite decades of aid, many recipient nations did not support us at the United Nations. Others favoured China. That’s not a good return for the American taxpayer,” he said.
He also pointed fingers at international NGOs, accusing them of misusing aid money and failing to deliver on their promises.
With the aid pipeline cut off, vulnerable populations around the world now face an uncertain future, as the gap left by USAID remains wide open and largely unfilled.
