Trump aid cuts linked to deaths and millions more forecast
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 9
Trump aid cuts linked to deaths and millions more forecast
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 9
A Boston University researcher estimated the 2024-25 humanitarian aid reduction caused more than 750,000 deaths in its first year, while a Lancet study projected 9.4 million by 2030.
The forecast includes 2.5 million children under five, though the article says exact mortality is uncertain because the administration also cut data collection needed to measure deaths accurately.
The report says some HIV/AIDS programmes were preserved and lenacapavir use expanded, but argues the 71% cut undermined aid that had been saving roughly one life every 10 seconds.
Can a 'trade over aid' model replace life-saving programs amid millions of projected deaths from U.S. funding cuts?
The U.S. promotes a new HIV drug while slashing delivery programs. How will this paradox impact the global fight against AIDS?
With the U.S. dismantling its global health agencies, how will the world prepare for the next pandemic?
From Aid Cuts to Global Crisis: The Human and Geopolitical Toll of U.S. Policy Shifts, 2025-2030
Overview
The report shows how earlier U.S. foreign aid cuts led to a deepening global crisis by early 2026. The Trump administration tried to restart some aid with an 'America first global health strategy,' but this faced major hurdles due to the prior dismantling of key humanitarian infrastructure. As a result, even with new policies, aid delivery was slow and ineffective, worsening the crisis. The lack of clear plans and weakened systems meant that vulnerable populations suffered more, with health, food security, and overall well-being at risk. This chain of events highlights how policy shifts can quickly unravel years of humanitarian progress.