The United States is turning its back on the world by cutting funding to its largest aid agency.
Implemented early this year, the 90-day freeze in USAID funding has halted an estimated $60 billion in foreign aid, disrupting critical humanitarian programs worldwide.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Executive Order suspended all non-security USAID funding to reassess program effectiveness and is part of a broader “rightsizing” effort under the new Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). USAID’s workforce has been slashed from 10,000 employees to fewer than 300 as the agency undergoes restructuring.
At least 92% of USAID’s contracts have been suspended, affecting over 100 countries.
In the Philippines, where USAID has long supported education, healthcare, and economic resilience, the impact is already visible. Five Department of Education projects are now under review. The $30 million UPSKILL program at Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines has been put on hold.
Disaster relief efforts in typhoon-prone areas have been stalled, delaying reconstruction and emergency response efforts.
Domestically, the freeze is hurting American farmers who relied on USAID contracts to sell surplus wheat, corn, and soybeans. Thousands across Kansas and the Midwest now face financial uncertainty without a stable buyer.
U.S.-based NGOs and research institutions are also scaling back their operations and laying off staff as funding dries up.
The global fallout is severe. In South Africa, where over 8 million people live with HIV, 5.5 million who rely on U.S.-funded treatment programs risk losing access to life-saving drugs.
Over in Haiti, food aid has stopped, worsening hunger. The United Nations World Food Programme has closed its Southern Africa office due to the funding cut, affecting millions dependent on U.S. food assistance.
The administration has granted limited exemptions for emergency humanitarian aid while maintaining security-related assistance to allies like the Philippines. However, multiple legal challenges have emerged. A federal judge issued a temporary injunction on February 13, requiring some aid disbursements.
The Supreme Court later granted a temporary stay, delaying a lower court’s order to release $2 billion. Lawsuits argue the freeze violates agreements and endangers lives.
As legal battles continue, affected nations and NGOs scramble to fill funding gaps. Some seek alternative financing, while governments lobby for exemptions.
If the Supreme Court upholds the freeze, many humanitarian projects may face permanent closure, reshaping global aid and diminishing U.S. influence.
