President Trump’s Freeze on Foreign Aid Will Cost Lives

Photo via The American Prospect

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, freezing U.S. foreign aid for 90 days. In doing so, he claimed, “The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values.” This pause in foreign aid exceeds $40 billion, effectively halting humanitarian assistance programs affecting food aid, medical supplies, and refugee settlements globally. Trump is defending this action, claiming it follows his “America First” policy, a stance that helped gain votes during the 2024 presidential election. He continues to ignore pressure from courts, humanitarian organizations, religious groups, and international allies who are continuously warning of severe consequences for countries like Sudan, which rely on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for survival. 

In April of 2023, a civil war erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This led to the mass displacement of citizens and a severe disruption of agricultural activities, resulting in a famine. This famine has been a cause for concern since mid-2024, with events such as the RSF’s attacks on displacement camp Zamzam in the North Darfur region only exacerbating the issue. 

How Does the Freeze of U.S. Foreign Aid Affect This Ongoing Conflict in Sudan? 

Millions of Sudanese are currently at risk of starvation; children and vulnerable populations face heightened dangers. In situations such as these, U.S. foreign aid has historically been crucial in providing emergency food assistance, medical care, and support through organizations like USAID and the World Food Programme. However, with the freeze of funds, vital resources have been cut off, and conditions are growing more dire by the day. Experts are warning President Trump that without immediate intervention, famine conditions will worsen. Consequences include mass displacement, increased mortality, and more. 

Following Trump’s executive order, USAID immediately had to dismantle critical operations, halt food distribution, and pause medical aid programs. Approximately 10,000 employees were furloughed, disrupting logistical networks essential for delivering emergency relief. Moreover, humanitarian organizations are deprived of access to critical funding, leaving Sudan without life-saving resources, surging malnutrition rates, and the threat of mass fatalities. Relief organizations were forced to shut down due to lack of funding, leaving thousands without access to daily meals and essential healthcare. According to Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International and a former USAID official in Sudan, food kitchens funded by U.S. aid are already shutting down. 

Sudan is not the only country severely affected by the freeze of U.S. foreign aid, however. Countries such as Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Ethiopia are also in crucial need of resources and funding. Over a fifth of their assistance comes from USAID, and the aid makes up about 11% of their total income. 

Additionally, many countries in Africa battling HIV and AIDS epidemics are fearful for their futures, as medications and pathways for treatment are dwindling with the closing of clinics. Nyumbani Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya, which uses USAID funding to provide around 100 children with antiretroviral medication, is pleading for the United States to continue providing free medication to orphans suffering from HIV and tuberculosis. Over the last two decades, this life-saving medication has been essential for 1.3 million Kenyan citizens battling HIV and AIDS, making it clear why so many will fear for their lives if USAID can no longer provide it. 

In a similar vein, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been paramount for communities across Africa since 2003. PEPFAR has saved more than 26 million lives, changing how AIDS and HIV impact the world and generating hope for a future of prosperity. The freeze of U.S. foreign aid has also halted PEPFAR. Distribution of medication, clinics, and healthcare worker salaries are facing mass cuts, forcing patients to question if the disease will become a life-or-death crisis again. 

The freeze of U.S. foreign aid has resulted in global organizations stepping up and supporting efforts to keep communities from falling into catastrophic damage. The United Nations, however, continues to emphasize the importance of U.S. foreign aid, as its global impact saves countless lives each year. U.S. foreign aid in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), for example, alleviates preventable problems for pregnant mothers, newborns, and gender-based violence. 

Inside the United States, Trump is facing harsh backlash from the public, with protests arising and lawsuits coming into effect in response to his actions. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sued the Trump administration for the freeze of funding for refugee settlement, claiming the action to be unlawful and unconstitutional. The U.S. Catholic Bishops “…work to uphold the common good of all and promote the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable among us,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio. The actions from Trump violate this stance, claiming that withholding funds for the refugee resettlement program goes against the government’s “moral and legal commitments.” They emphasize that the program is not under foreign aid because it is a domestic program, and would face grave consequences from a severe lack of funding.  

At the time of this article being written, Trump and his administration have not restored foreign aid, even despite a court order by Judge Amir H. Ali on February 13, 2025. Reimbursements and payments owed by the State Department and USAID have failed to be made following claims from USAID Deputy Secretary Pete Marocco, a Trump appointee, and other administrative officials that they could lawfully stop or terminate payments without violating the judge’s order. Doubling down on the life-threatening executive order puts millions at risk with each day that goes by. 

As the freeze of U.S. foreign aid is still in effect, lives are at stake, and communities are panicking. Continuing to withhold aid will result in worse conditions for the famine in Sudan, HIV and AIDS patients across Africa, impoverished countries that lack basic medical care and clean water, and refugees inside the United States. This is a plea for the Trump administration to look beyond numbers and realize that human lives do not come with a price tag. For a political party that so strongly pushed an “All Lives Matter” agenda, it makes you question how they deem those in need to not be “aligned with American interests.” To ensure survival and basic human rights, immediate action must be taken. The clock is ticking.

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This article was edited by Anna Gehres and Kailee Pierce.