U.S. Slashes Foreign Aid: Global Health Crisis Looms as Thousands of Grants Terminated

In a controversial move, the U.S. government has terminated thousands of foreign assistance grants under USAID and the State Department, prompting a strong backlash from global health and humanitarian organizations. The Global Health Council has called this decision a “tragedy of historic proportions,” citing the devastating impact on global health, development, and humanitarian aid efforts.

The termination of these grants, which provided essential support to vulnerable communities worldwide, has been described as reckless and unilateral. The Global Health Council emphasized that these grants were vital for life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment, maternal and child health programs, pandemic preparedness, and humanitarian assistance in conflict zones. The decision to cut 92% of USAID’s awards and thousands more from the State Department is seen as a deliberate act that will cause irreparable harm.

Immediate and Far-Reaching Consequences

The human toll of this decision will be immediate and devastating. Among the projects terminated are:

HIV Care and Treatment: Waivered projects in Lesotho, Tanzania, and Eswatini, supporting over 350,000 people on HIV treatment, including nearly 10,000 children and over 10,000 HIV-positive pregnant women.
Malaria Contracts: Lifesaving essential commodities for 53 million people, mostly young children and pregnant women in Africa, including nets, diagnostics, treatment, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
Nutrition Programs: Contracts with U.S. factories producing vital treatments for malnourished children in Gaza and Syria, as well as nutrition programs in Nigeria, Nepal, and Bangladesh, impacting millions of children and women.
Water and Health Services: Projects providing the only source of water for 250,000 displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and operational health clinics in Sudan.
Global Health Supply Chain: Projects ensuring lifesaving medical supplies reach health facilities around the world.
Neglected Tropical Diseases: Programs in six countries affecting over 100 million people, providing treatments for diseases like trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis.

Global Health Council’s Condemnation

The Global Health Council has condemned the administration’s decision, stating that it undermines decades of progress in global health and development without due process or transparency. The council calls on Congress, the courts, and all who believe in the value of U.S. global engagement to take immediate action to prevent further loss of lives.

In their statement, the council highlighted that the administration’s assurance of fair program reviews and continued critical assistance was broken. The scale and speed of the terminations indicate that the decision was never about strategic review or fiscal responsibility, but rather about dismantling America’s leadership in global health and development, disregarding the suffering left in its wake.

Statement from Global Health Council on the Mass Termination of USAID and State Department Grants

February 27, 2025
“The decision to terminate thousands of USAID and State Department foreign assistance grants is a tragedy of historic proportions. With the stroke of a pen, the U.S. government has gutted decades of progress in global health, development, and humanitarian aid — without due process, transparency, or good faith consideration of the consequences. This reckless and unilateral move will cost millions of lives around the world.”

The Global Health Council’s statement underscores the urgency of addressing this issue and the potential human cost if immediate action is not taken.