USAID – the United States Agency for International Development – was officially shut down after President Trump gradually dismantled it, citing allegedly inefficient spending.
Without USAID, 14 million people could die by 2030
In March of this year, more than 80% of all USAID programs were canceled, and on July 2, the remaining programs were formally transferred to the U.S. Department of State. The closure of USAID – the agency responsible for providing aid on behalf of the U.S. government and the world’s largest provider of international assistance – was sharply criticized by former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, according to the BBC.
Scientists also issued a warning in an article published in the medical journal The Lancet, stating that such cuts to healthcare services could lead to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. The authors described the numbers as “staggering” and predicted that up to one-third of those at risk of premature death would be children.
However, a spokesperson for the Department of State claimed the report was based on “flawed assumptions” and insisted that the United States would continue providing aid “more efficiently,” as reported by AFP. According to the Congressional Research Service, USAID – founded in 1961 – previously employed around 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom worked abroad.
What happened to USAID?
The controversial cuts began at the start of Donald Trump’s second term, when billionaire and former presidential advisor Elon Musk was tasked with reducing the size of the federal workforce. This decision was condemned by humanitarian organizations worldwide.
Among the programs that were cut were initiatives to provide prosthetics to wounded soldiers in Ukraine, demining operations in various countries, and efforts to stop the spread of the Ebola virus in Africa. As of the morning of July 2, the agency’s website still displayed a message stating that all USAID staff had been on leave since February 23.
What Did USAID Do in Ukraine?
USAID had been operating in Ukraine since 1992, providing support worth billions of dollars. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the United States—through USAID—has provided $22.9 billion in direct budgetary support to the Ukrainian government to assist displaced persons and to fund salaries for public officials delivering essential services.
In 2024—the final year of the agency’s operations—USAID allocated $522 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by Russian shelling and to support the provision of public services. That same year, 2.7 million Ukrainian citizens received medical care thanks to support from USAID and its partners.
American funding was also directed toward charitable organizations and long-term programs focused on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, according to the BBC. In 2025, USAID had planned to provide $481.6 million to Ukraine. Of that amount, $71 million was intended for healthcare, including $53 million to combat HIV/AIDS and $12 million to fight tuberculosis.
Also read: The Ukrainian economy without USAID. How much a day of war in Ukraine costs?
Among the dozens of projects funded by USAID in Ukraine, there were also those not directly related to humanitarian aid — including the construction of so-called European-gauge railways, shelters in schools, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
One of the largest areas of support was the energy sector. The United States invested nearly one billion dollars in the purchase of equipment, the reconstruction of energy infrastructure damaged by shelling, and the distribution of heating briquettes to residents of devastated villages. More than 15,000 Ukrainian farmers received seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection products. Thanks to the AGRI-Ukraine initiative, $2.26 billion in investments were attracted to Ukraine’s agricultural sector.
USAID also supported media and cultural projects — including the editorial teams of “Suspilne,” “Hromadske,” “Ukrainer,” and “Po toj bik nowyn.”
America First, USAID Last
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that following the reduction of USAID programs, the remaining ones would be transferred under the management of the State Department. “The era of government-sanctioned inefficiency is officially over,” he declared on July 1.
President Trump has repeatedly stated that foreign spending must align with his “America First” doctrine. However, former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama criticized Trump’s decision during a joint videoconference with Bono — lead singer of U2 — addressed to thousands of current and former USAID employees.
George W. Bush — also a Republican — warned of the threat to HIV/AIDS programs initiated by his administration, which have been credited with saving 25 million lives. “Thanks to your work, you showed what the true strength of America is — and its heart,” Bush said. “Is it in our national interest that 25 million people are alive who might otherwise be dead? I believe so — and so do you.”
Barack Obama, representing the Democratic Party, reminded listeners of the global importance of USAID’s mission. “The fall of USAID is both a farce and a tragedy. It was one of the most important missions in the world,” the former president was quoted as saying.
Bono, a longtime humanitarian activist, stressed that shutting down the agency could cost millions of lives. “They called you frauds, even though you were the best of us,” he told the audience.
USAID had long been considered a cornerstone of the global aid system. After Trump announced the cuts, other countries — including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — also reduced their humanitarian spending. The United Nations declared that the world is now facing “the deepest crisis in the history of international humanitarian funding.”
