Trump's Cuts to Global Aid Reportedly Threaten 14 Million Lives by 2030

A Lancet report estimates that drastic cuts to American humanitarian aid could lead to 14 million avoidable deaths by 2030, particularly affecting children and marginalized communities.

A new study released by The Lancet medical journal has raised alarms over the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s cuts to foreign humanitarian aid, estimating that more than 14 million additional deaths could occur by the year 2030. This research indicates that children make up a significant portion of those at risk. According to the report, low- and middle-income nations are poised to experience a crisis of a magnitude comparable to a major armed conflict or global pandemic.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported in March that over 80% of the programs run by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have faced cancellation under the Trump administration's recent budgetary strategies, deemed necessary to eliminate wasteful spending. Critics argue that these controversial cuts are being handled by Elon Musk, who has been leading an initiative aimed at reducing the federal workforce.

During his second term, Trump has reiterated his commitment to an "America First" approach to overseas spending. Rasella, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health involved in the study, cautioned that the USAID funding reductions could threaten two decades of health progress among vulnerable populations globally. The report posits that these funding cuts, capped at an estimated 83% reduction as communicated by Rubio, could lead to a staggering number of avoidable deaths, estimating that over 4.5 million children under five years old could perish as a result.

The report was published amid a significant United Nations-led aid conference in Seville, Spain, anticipated to be the largest in ten years. Surprisingly, the U.S. is not expected to participate, despite being the world's leading provider of humanitarian aid, with $68 billion allocated in 2023. Historically, USAID has worked in over 60 countries, largely reliant on contract support. Following Trump’s aid cuts, various nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, have also begun to reduce their aid expenditures, drawing widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations.

Additionally, the United Nations has warned that the international humanitarian sector is facing the most devastating funding cuts ever recorded. With the situation deteriorating on the ground, a UN official recently reported to the BBC that numerous individuals are facing starvation in Kenyan refugee camps due to diminished food rations attributed to these U.S. funding cuts. Distressing scenes of malnutrition were witnessed at a hospital in Kakuma, where infants were showing severe signs of deprivation.