By Christopher Sharp,
Experts have warned that Donald Trump’s cuts to USAID could cause over 2.1 million deaths per year over the next three years.
The warnings came after it was announced earlier this month that 83 percent of programmes run by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) would be culled following a six-week attack by the new administration.
USAID helps to administer vital humanitarian aid worldwide on behalf of the US – but some fear the cuts could have a devastating impact.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Star, Managing Director of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress Allison McManus warned that the cuts were so catastrophic they could cause the next global pandemic.
Allison said: “The Trump administration’s cuts to critical humanitarian assistance programs are a death sentence to millions around the world facing infectious diseases, hunger, and malnutrition.
“The administration’s cuts to AIDS programs alone may cause an additional 6.3 million deaths over the next three years. The cuts will impact other lifesaving programs, cutting off tuberculosis treatment for nearly three million people and polio vaccines
Allison added that the impact wouldn’t just be felt in those living with and at risk of catching AIDS, but the rest of the world could be in trouble too with an unchecked spread of disease increasingly the probability “another global pandemic”.
These comments have proved even more pertinent with countries around the world each marking their fifth anniversaries of the official start of the Covid-19 pandemic, one the WHO (World Health Organisation) says has claimed over seven million people. To put this in context, the population of New York City is just over eight million.
Announcing the cut to aid programmes on social media, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed: “After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.
“In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping (approximately 1000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department.”
Following the statement, 700 US diplomats and officials have written to Rubio calling for him to change his mind, reported the Guardian .
In the letter, they wrote: “The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid contracts and assistance awards without any meaningful review jeopardizes our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, and creates openings for adversaries to expand their influence. The freeze on life-saving aid has already caused irreparable harm and suffering to millions of people around the world.”
It remains to be seen if Rubio, Musk, or Trump will change their mind, but experts are worrying that without a reverse ferret on policy Uncle Sam’s body count could rise even further.
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