How will Trump and Musk’s freeze on USAid affect millions around the world?

Immediately after his inauguration, the US president and the head of Doge halted funding for all foreign assistance, creating chaos for staff and for humanitarian projects, charities, governments and people around the world
Within hours of taking office on 20 January, the US president, Donald Trump, announced an immediate 90-day freeze on all US foreign assistance, including over $40bn (£32bn) for international projects coming from USAid, the US Agency for International Development.
In that time, there would be a review conducted to ensure the agency was backing work that aligned with the administration’s “America First” agenda. Waivers were later announced for “lifesaving humanitarian assistance” but it was quickly apparent the guidelines were confusing and contradictory.
Continue reading...Topics
-
‘The impact has been devastating’: how USAid freeze sent shockwaves through Ethiopia
Ethiopia was the largest recipient of US aid assistance in sub-Saharan Africa before Donald Trump froze funding last month. From food and health to support for refugees and sexual abuse survivors, ...The Guardian - 13h -
USAID aid freeze triggers health care crisis in Africa
USAID's 90-day freeze on all services has resulted in a significant loss of trust, critical health care, food aid, and medical supplies, causing life-threatening consequences for Malawian patients, ...The Hill - 49m -
IRS layoffs underway around the country as millions prepare to file taxes
The IRS has begun laying off more than 6,000 new and newly promoted employees across the country as part of the push to slash the federal government, sources say.ABC News - 20h -
Experience: I sailed alone around the world aged 16
My parents weren’t thrilled with the idea, but they knew I’d do it anyway. I was born during my parents’ sea voyage around the world, and always wanted to make the trip myself. They divorced when ...The Guardian - 8h -
Ukrainians rally around their president after Trump seeks to denigrate him
Days before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainians are as somber and tense as they were right before Moscow launched the warABC News - 8h -
International aid groups axe thousands of jobs in wake of Trump funding freeze
Fears that cuts will ‘decimate’ ability to react to crises as sector loses expertise and skills at every level, report finds. Some of the world’s largest aid organisations are axing thousands of ...The Guardian - 7h -
‘The World Is There for the Carving’: Two Columnists on the Trump-Putin Alliance
We’ve never seen anything like this: a president who appears aligned with a Russian dictator in targeting the weak and the vulnerable.The New York Times - 8h -
Europe’s elite fears Trump, Musk and the truth
The EU's ruling class has become fanatical in its desire to censor.The Hill - 5h -
Trump's foreign aid freeze halted a crucial program fighting HIV in Africa. Here's what's at stake
The freeze on U.S. foreign aid ordered by President Donald Trump has effectively halted one of the world's most successful responses to a diseaseABC News - 1d -
Trump administration hasn't complied with order to halt foreign aid freeze, judge says
The Trump administration has not fully complied with a court order pausing the freezing of foreign assistance grants and contracts, a federal judge ruled.NBC News - 17h
More from The Guardian
-
Middle East crisis live: Israel claims Hamas killed Bibas children with their ‘bare hands’
Statement from IDF spokesman contradicts Hamas claim the family was killed in an airstrike. One of the four bodies returned by Hamas to Israel on Thursday is not that of Shiri Bibas, Israel’s ...The Guardian - 11m -
French far-right leader cancels CPAC speech over Steve Bannon’s ‘Nazi’ salute
Jordan Bardella calls off US address after former Trump aide makes controversial gesture with outstretched arm onstage. The French far-right leader Jordan Bardella on Friday morning cancelled a ...The Guardian - 1h -
Trump says he ‘had very good talks with Putin’ and again criticizes Ukraine – live
US president also accuses Kyiv of talking ‘tough’ but having few bargaining chips in latest remarks in feud with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy. National security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd ...The Guardian - 32m -
Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann charged with stalking
Julia Wandel allegedly sent letters, calls, WhatsApps and visited family of missing girl . A woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been remanded in custody after being charged with stalking ...The Guardian - 3h -
Apple removes advanced data protection tool in face of UK government request
Apple says removal of tool after government asked for right to see data will make iCloud users more vulnerable. Business live – latest updates Apple has taken the unprecedented step of ...The Guardian - 43m
More in World
-
Middle East crisis live: Israel claims Hamas killed Bibas children with their ‘bare hands’
Statement from IDF spokesman contradicts Hamas claim the family was killed in an airstrike. One of the four bodies returned by Hamas to Israel on Thursday is not that of Shiri Bibas, Israel’s ...The Guardian - 11m -
Trump says he ‘had very good talks with Putin’ and again criticizes Ukraine – live
US president also accuses Kyiv of talking ‘tough’ but having few bargaining chips in latest remarks in feud with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy. National security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd ...The Guardian - 32m -
South Carolina man to be killed in US’s first firing squad execution in 15 years
Brad Sigmon, 67, chooses to be shot dead amid concerns that lethal injections have caused ‘excruciating’ pain. A South Carolina man on death row has chosen to be killed by firing squad, and if ...The Guardian - 34m -
European draws and Pep Guardiola on Haaland injury – live football news
Liverpool meet Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Arsenal could face Real Madrid in the quarter-final. A video explains just how the draw works. I was confused ...The Guardian - 39m -
Apple removes advanced data protection tool in face of UK government request
Apple says removal of tool after government asked for right to see data will make iCloud users more vulnerable. Business live – latest updates Apple has taken the unprecedented step of ...The Guardian - 43m