Originally published in Ms. Magazine.
For nearly 60 years, the United States has been a leading force in global health, investing in international family planning and maternal, newborn, and child health efforts. Yet, within the first 50 days in office, the new administration has eviscerated nearly all foreign assistance, including critical global health programs.
The move marked an aggressive attack on women’s health by dismantling US investments in family planning assistance and putting essential reproductive care at risk—even though foreign assistance for global health represents just 0.1% of the US federal budget. A negligible saving for the United States, yet a devastating loss for the world.
The freeze on US foreign assistance funding and the subsequent stop work order has already taken an irreversible toll on global health programs, including family planning services, causing chaos across public health systems and forcing many sexual and reproductive health providers and programs to close doors permanently. Despite ongoing litigation to challenge these actions in court—including an important court victory that found this attack likely unconstitutional—most USAID partners are still waiting for government payments for work already completed. Adding to the upheaval, the administration gutted USAID staff and cancelled 83% of its aid contracts.
Read the full op-ed in Ms. Magazine.