I am writing to urge you to advocate with members of the Foreign Relations committee to halt Trump’s reckless Executive Order reexamining foreign aid and forcing USAID to issue stop work orders. While evaluating aid effectiveness is reasonable, the abrupt, total suspension of assistance is irresponsible and dangerous, with far-reaching consequences both at home and abroad. Why This Matters: The Consequences of an Aid Freeze · Lives Are at Stake: USAID’s global health programs save over 3 million lives annually through immunization and disease prevention. The PEPFAR program—historically bipartisan—has helped 2.8 million babies be born HIV-free and provided critical HIV/AIDS care to 6.7 million people. A 90-day disruption could mean thousands losing access to lifesaving treatment, leading to untold new HIV infections and deaths. · Global Stability is at Risk: In developing countries, USAID funds education, economic development, and democracy-building efforts. The sudden loss of support may foster political instability and anti-U.S. sentiment, potentially fueling radical movements. · Economic Reversals: Countries that received PEPFAR funding saw a 45.7% increase in GDP growth per capita over 15 years. Cutting aid could reverse economic gains, increasing poverty and unrest.
· Wasteful Spending & Job Losses: If funding is later reinstated, restarting these programs will be costlier due to the need for re-hiring and retraining staff, reopening offices, and re-establishing supply chains. Meanwhile, thousands of aid workers in the U.S. and abroad—many of whom are low-paid professionals—will face sudden unemployment, struggling to afford basic living costs. It would be devastating to the good that projects are doing to increase biodiversity and natural resource management around the world. Thank you for your advocacy.
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