Recent studies, including one published in the Lancet, highlight the severe consequences of significant cuts to U.S. development aid under the administration of former President Donald Trump. The research predicts that these reductions could lead to over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, with over 4.5 million affecting children under the age of five. These cuts were part of a broader reduction in foreign assistance, with the U.S. having historically been one of the largest global donors.
The cessation of funding through USAID, a key agency in providing healthcare, nutrition, and humanitarian aid, poses a major threat to global health and development progress. USAID's programs have been instrumental in preventing approximately 91 million deaths from 2001 to 2021, thanks to a 15% reduction in mortality for various causes and a 32% drop in child mortality under five. The agency was particularly effective in combating diseases like AIDS, reducing the mortality risk by 65% in heavily supported countries.
The ripple effect of the U.S. aid cuts has prompted other affluent nations, such as the UK, Germany, and France, to also reduce their development funding. This collective retrenchment represents the most significant decline in aid since the 1960s. Experts warn that these actions could reverse decades of progress in vulnerable populations' health, equating the impact to that of a global pandemic or major conflict.
As global leaders and stakeholders convene in Spain to discuss development financing, the absence of a U.S. delegation underscores the critical need for renewed commitment to international aid. Increasing, rather than decreasing, support is crucial to prevent further loss of life and to continue the fight against poverty and disease in low and middle-income countries.
