Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that his administration’s reductions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its global aid programs have had a “devastating” impact.
During a White House meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump addressed a reporter’s question about the significant repercussions of these aid cuts in Africa. “It’s devastating, and hopefully a lot of people are going to start spending a lot of money,” Trump stated in the Oval Office.
He further emphasized the need for other nations to increase their contributions, asserting, “I’ve talked to other nations. We want them to chip in and spend money too, and we’ve spent a lot. And it’s a big – it’s a tremendous problem going on in many countries. A lot of problems going on. The United States always gets the request for money. Nobody else helps.”
The State Department, which oversees USAID, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration has consistently defended the cuts, arguing that they targeted wasteful spending. The agency’s restructuring, reportedly influenced by South Africa-born businessman Elon Musk, has been challenged by multiple federal lawsuits.
The United States remains the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, accounting for at least 38% of all contributions tracked by the United Nations. In the previous year, the U.S. disbursed $61 billion in foreign assistance, with slightly more than half channeled through USAID, according to government data.
In 2023, the U.S. provided approximately half a billion dollars in aid to South Africa, primarily focused on healthcare. However, much of this funding has been withdrawn, although the exact amount remains unclear.
These cuts have significantly impacted South Africa’s response to the HIV epidemic. The country bears the world’s highest burden of HIV, with approximately 8 million people – one in five adults – living with the virus.
Prior to the cuts, Washington funded 17% of South Africa’s HIV budget. Since then, Reuters has reported a decline in HIV patient testing and monitoring across the country.
Discussion about this post