More than 14 million vulnerable individuals — including 4.5 million children under five — could die by 2030 due to severe reductions in US foreign aid during the Trump administration, according to a Lancet study. The dismantling of USAID, formerly responsible for over 40% of global humanitarian assistance, threatens to undo 20 years of progress in global health.
Researchers found that from 2001 to 2021, USAID support helped prevent nearly 92 million deaths across 133 countries. However, an 83% cut in funding could trigger a surge in preventable deaths from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and neglected tropical illnesses.
The study likens the potential consequences to those of a global pandemic or large-scale war, warning that health systems in low- and middle-income nations may suffer lasting harm. A live tracker estimates that over 332,000 people — including 224,000 children — have already died as a result of the cuts, with fatalities averaging 88 per hour.
Despite the urgency, the United States is not participating in this week’s major UN aid summit in Spain. Researchers are calling for urgent restoration and expansion of aid, emphasizing that USAID once accounted for only 0.3% of US federal spending — about 17 cents per American daily — yet saved millions of lives globally.
