President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the reductions made by his administration to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its global aid initiatives have been “devastating.”
During a joint appearance with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, Trump responded to a journalist’s question regarding the significant impact 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 remarked in the Oval Office. “I’ve spoken to other nations. We want them to contribute and invest as well, and we’ve already invested a considerable amount. There are tremendous issues occurring in many countries. The United States always receives requests for funding, but no one else helps.”
The State Department, which oversees USAID, did not provide an immediate comment when approached for a response. The administration has consistently defended these cuts, asserting that they target inefficient spending. The significant reduction of the agency, primarily overseen by South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk, has led to multiple federal lawsuits.
The United States is the largest humanitarian aid donor globally, accounting for approximately 38% of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. According to government data, it provided $61 billion in foreign assistance last year, with just over half of that amount distributed through USAID.
In 2023, the U.S. allocated half a billion dollars in aid to South Africa, mainly for healthcare initiatives. However, most of this funding has been withdrawn, although the exact amount remains unclear.
These cuts have notably impacted the country’s efforts to combat the HIV epidemic. South Africa bears the highest burden of HIV globally, with around 8 million people—approximately one in five adults—living with the virus. Prior to the cuts, Washington was financing 17% of the nation’s HIV budget. Since then, there has been a reported decline in the testing and monitoring of HIV patients throughout South Africa, according to Reuters.
