Latest news: president Donald Trump haulted the USAID Funding to African Countries Under his Administration: Read more

The decision to halt USAID funding to African countries under the second Trump administration, initiated through an executive order on January 20, 2025, marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy with profound implications for African nations, global humanitarian efforts, and U.S. strategic interests. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the decision, its context, impacts, reactions, and potential long-term consequences, drawing on available information and critical evaluation.
Background and Context
USAID’s Role in Africa:
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign aid, administering billions of dollars annually to support humanitarian, health, education, and development programs worldwide. In 2023, USAID allocated $12.1 billion to sub-Saharan Africa, funding critical initiatives like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), food security, and governance programs.

Sub-Saharan Africa received significant aid, with countries like Ethiopia ($1.7 billion), Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa being major recipients. Programs addressed HIV/AIDS, malaria, food insecurity, and conflict stabilization, often in partnership with local NGOs and governments.

Trump’s “America First” Policy:
The decision to halt USAID funding aligns with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, which prioritizes U.S. domestic interests over global commitments. Trump and his allies, notably Elon Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), criticized USAID as inefficient, ideologically misaligned, and a drain on U.S. resources. Musk labeled USAID a “criminal organization” and boasted of “feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”

On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” imposing a 90-day freeze on new foreign aid obligations and disbursements, followed by stop-work orders on existing programs. The administration aimed to review all programs for alignment with U.S. interests, defined as making America “safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

Administrative Actions:
The administration moved to dismantle USAID as an independent agency, proposing to merge it into the State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio. Over 95% of USAID’s workforce was cut, reducing staff from 14,000 to 294, and overseas personnel were recalled.

By March 2025, 83% of USAID programs were terminated, with funding for many health and humanitarian initiatives permanently halted, though limited waivers were issued for “life-saving” aid like PEPFAR and emergency food assistance.

Rationale Behind the Decision
The Trump administration justified the halt in USAID funding on several grounds:
Economic Efficiency: The administration argued that foreign aid, constituting less than 1% of the U.S. budget ($68 billion in 2023), was wasteful and misaligned with American taxpayers’ interests.

Ideological Concerns: Trump’s executive order claimed that foreign aid programs promoted “ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations,” targeting initiatives like gender equality and climate change, which were seen as “woke” by the administration.

Strategic Realignment: The administration sought to redirect aid to align with “America First” priorities, such as countering Chinese influence or supporting strategic allies like Israel and Egypt, which were exempted from cuts.

Criticism of Dependency: Some administration officials echoed long-standing critiques that foreign aid fosters dependency in recipient countries, a view shared by some African leaders and analysts who saw the cuts as an opportunity for self-reliance.

Impacts on African Countries
The halt in USAID funding had immediate and far-reaching consequences for African nations, particularly in humanitarian, health, and economic domains.
Humanitarian Crises:
Sudan: In war-torn Sudan, where 25 million people needed food aid, the suspension halted national food programs and closed over two-thirds of community soup kitchens in Khartoum. Aid workers reported that 8 million people faced starvation risks.

Democratic Republic of Congo: In Goma, where violence displaced thousands, USAID-funded water and sanitation programs stopped, increasing cholera risks as people turned to contaminated sources like Lake Kivu.

South Sudan, Chad, and Others: Emergency food aid was partially restored via waivers, but non-exempt programs, like malnutrition clinics, faced closures, threatening vulnerable populations.

Health Programs:
PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS: PEPFAR, which supports 20 million people with HIV treatment (mostly in Africa), was severely disrupted. Non-exempt services like cervical cancer screening and support for orphans stopped, risking 400% higher AIDS deaths by 2029 if funding isn’t restored. In South Africa, PEPFAR accounted for 17% of the HIV/AIDS budget ($453 million in 2024), and its suspension endangered millions.

Malaria and Other Diseases: The freeze halted malaria prevention programs, potentially leading to 18 million additional cases and 166,000 deaths annually. Outbreak responses for Ebola, Marburg, and mpox were also paused.

Economic and Social Fallout: