On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy—officially ceased to exist as an independent entity. Under the Trump administration, roughly 85% of its programs were cancelled and its remaining functions absorbed into a new State Department office. This dissolution has sparked fierce criticism: a Lancet‑published study warns up to 14 million additional deaths by 2030 due to halted health and humanitarian efforts such as PEPFAR and malaria control. Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama publicly condemned the move, calling it a “colossal mistake” .
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USAID’s closure marks a pivotal shift in American foreign aid, with savings touted in cost-cutting while raising alarms over global public health impacts. Defenders claim inefficiencies, but health experts point to the agency’s proven track record—preventing disease, advancing education, and bolstering development. The transition raises urgent questions about future U.S. leadership in global humanitarian efforts.
