#  HHI Humanitarian Update: Impacts of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts on Global Crises 

 





February 11, 2025

 

 

- [ News ](/news-categories/news)
 
 

 

The recent executive orders issued by the United States Government on January 24, 2025, and the subsequent dismantling of USAID paused nearly all U.S. foreign aid and created waves of concern globally. Additionally, news regarding USAID staff losing their jobs and USAID moving under the U.S. State Department added to the complexity and escalating concerns.

This abrupt halt places millions of people around the world at risk, compounds existing humanitarian emergencies, and creates major implications for the millions of recipients of $20 billion in aid in 150 countries and life-saving programs in the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).

Health, diplomacy, national security, and mortality risks caused by the cessation of critical foreign aid will be devastating and long-term. We estimate that this funding pause and dismantling of USAID will threaten global health, exacerbate humanitarian crises, destabilize fragile regions, and undermine decades of progress in development.

At [Harvard Humanitarian Initiative](https://hhi.harvard.edu/humanitarianinitiative/home), we are closely monitoring the ever-evolving news and will continue our work in training and educating humanitarians around the world who are committed to humanitarian principles and the improvement of the lives of communities in crisis everywhere.

We invite you to read interviews with [**Dr. Michael VanRooyen**](https://hhi.harvard.edu/people/michael-vanrooyen) and other HHI Members below.

 [*The Boston Globe*](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/03/metro/usaid-shutdown-trump-elon-musk/)

[*The Atlantic*](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/02/usaid-doge-dismantle-cost-foreign-aid/681573/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)*\**

[*GBH*](https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-03-06/humanitarian-groups-say-foreign-aid-cuts-will-kill-vulnerable-people-and-hurt-us-interests)

[*The Harvard Crimson*](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/3/6/Michael-VanRooyen-profile/)

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