The humanitarian sector is in turmoil following the U.S. foreign aid cuts which have forced the United Nations and numerous global relief organizations to scale back vital programs. The budget cuts that came as a result of the actions by the Trump administration have triggered mass layoffs, program closures, and a substantial decrease in aid deemed crucial for vulnerable communities worldwide.
Massive cuts to foreign aid programs
Within just six weeks of taking office, the administration slashed billions in humanitarian assistance by terminating over 83% of USAID grants. This figure is all the more worrying given that the planned U.S. foreign aid for 2025 exceeded US$54 billion.
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Thousands of contracts with NGOs and international organizations have been abruptly cancelled, causing a crisis in global aid operations. U.S.-funded humanitarian projects, once a lifeline for millions, have been reduced to a mere shadow of their former existence.
UN agencies face unprecedented budget shortfalls
The United Nations has been among the hardest-hit institutions. Many of its agencies relied heavily on U.S. foreign aid to carry out their missions but have now suddenly witnessed serious budget deficits. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) previously received over 40% of its annual budget from the U.S. but has now been forced to cut US$300 million in planned relief efforts Even before these cuts, the agency was already stretched and struggling to respond to multiple crises, from conflict-driven displacement to climate-related disasters. These funding cuts have further weakened its ability to provide aid.
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which had depended on U.S. funding for over 40% of its US$3.4 billion budget, is now being forced to lay off thousands of employees, shut down operations in dozens of offices around the world and leave migrants and displaced people without critical support.
Global humanitarian impact
The immediate effects of the foreign aid reductions are being felt among some of the world’s most fragile regions:
- In Afghanistan, where decades of war have left millions in need of humanitarian aid, more than 9 million people have suddenly lost access to healthcare and protection services.
- Thousands of families from war-stricken Ukraine that depended on cash assistance to survive have seen their funding vanish overnight.
- Refugee camps in Sudan and Chad, already overwhelmed as they host hundreds of thousands of people fleeing violence, are now facing a serious shortage of resources.
Global health, food security initiatives disrupted
The World Health Organization (WHO), a major recipient of U.S. health funding intended for vital disease prevention efforts, has warned that the cuts threaten essential vaccination campaigns and pandemic preparedness efforts. The global measles and rubella monitoring system, which was entirely funded by the U.S., is now at risk of collapse. In Uganda, where Ebola outbreaks require swift medical responses, emergency funds have been redirected from other programs to compensate for the shortfall.
See also: Decades of progress in African healthcare at risk amid US funding freeze
UNAIDS, which fights AIDS across the world, is also experiencing significant setbacks. In countries such as Uganda and Haiti, where U.S. aid funded 55% of HIV prevention budgets, medical clinics and treatment centers have begun to shut down. In Haiti alone, 750,000 people have lost access to life-saving HIV medication. In South Africa, outreach programs that helped to prevent new infections have been forced to close as their resources shrank.
Global food security has also been affected. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which previously received roughly US$300 million annually from the U.S., has been forced to freeze recruitment, suspend multiple projects and halt emergency food aid in regions suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
UN chief condemns foreign aid cuts
The severity of these budget reductions has sparked sharp criticism from global leaders. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the withdrawal of funds will make the world “less healthy, less safe and less stable.” He described the funding shortfall as “a body blow” to global relief efforts, emphasizing that millions of people who relied on U.S.-funded aid now face increased hunger, disease and displacement.
