1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The February 2025 executive action eliminating 90% of USAID contracts has already resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide from hunger, untreated illness, and collapsed health services. I urge you to immediately restore USAID funding, reopen these critical programs, and save lives. The humanitarian toll is staggering. HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services halted immediately in 50 countries. The World Health Organization predicts this will cause more than 10 million additional HIV cases and three million HIV-related deaths, triple last year's death toll. Mothers and children in South Sudan are already dying after losing access to life-saving HIV medication at USAID clinics. More than 80% of food kitchens feeding refugees from the Sudanese Civil War have closed, creating conditions for widespread famine. The economic damage extends far beyond immediate suffering. Statistical modeling shows that by 2030, an additional 5.7 million Africans will fall below extreme poverty if funding remains frozen. Sub-Saharan Africa's economy will shrink by $4.5 billion within five years, driving increased migration and regional instability. USAID programs were our most effective tool for building alliances, promoting stability, reducing migration, and generating global goodwill. USAID funding directly benefited American farmers through food assistance programs while strengthening our national security. In fragile states like Somalia and the DRC, USAID funding supported local peacekeeping efforts. The resulting power vacuum allows militant groups like Al-Shabaab to expand influence and recruit from desperate populations lacking basic services. Congress must restore USAID funding immediately and ensure programs are carried out as legislated. Decades of developmental progress and millions of lives hang in the balance. There is no downside to helping people, and every reason to act now.