The Trump administration has substantially slashed foreign aid, terminating over 90% of USAID programming and thousands of State Department assistance initiatives. This drastic reduction is anticipated to threaten human rights worldwide and jeopardize millions of lives, according to Human Rights Watch. The State Department announced on February 26, 2025, the finalisation of a review that led to the cessation of 5,800 USAID contract awards and 4,100 grants from the State Department.
Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, expressed concerns about the profound and reckless implications of these cuts, which she termed ‘cruel’. “There are plenty of responsible ways to tailor foreign aid to an administration’s agenda without needlessly causing deaths and suffering.” This encompasses a wide range of vital rights and humanitarian programmes supporting democracy and rule of law globally.
The review process implemented by the State Department prior to these terminations was expedited, missing essential internal guidance and a methodology for public comment. Furthermore, it lacked any risk assessment framework to evaluate the potential consequences of abruptly halting such critical assistance. This decision followed President Trump’s executive order pausing foreign aid reviews on his first day in office.
The freeze on foreign aid has already led to significant humanitarian crises. Essential services, such as the provision of medicines to prevent HIV transmission in newborns and online education for Afghan girls, have been severely disrupted. Despite some humanitarian waivers, the majority of programming remains halted due to operational constraints within USAID and new limitations on payment systems.
Broader implications of these cuts are severely impacting human rights globally, with potential closures facing human rights monitoring groups and independent media dedicated to exposing abuses in authoritarian regimes. Yager implores Congress to challenge this unilateral termination of aid, stating, “No member of Congress, regardless of their party, should be comfortable allowing the State Department to unilaterally terminate tens of billions of dollars that Congress specifically appropriated for human rights and humanitarian assistance.”
The Trump administration has cut over 90% of USAID programs and many State Department foreign aid initiatives, endangering global human rights and millions of lives. The rapid review process lacked proper oversight and has already led to severe disruptions in essential services. Human Rights Watch urges Congress to intervene and protect these vital humanitarian initiatives.
In summary, the drastic cuts to US foreign aid under the Trump administration pose a serious threat to global human rights and humanitarian efforts. The abrupt terminations of vital programs have immediate and far-reaching consequences, already impacting the most vulnerable populations. There is an urgent need for congressional oversight to safeguard the funds that support critical aid and services worldwide.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
