CNN One Thing The Real-Life Impact of DOGE’s Cuts
Feb 9, 2025
Teddy Ruge, a sustainable farming advocate from Uganda, and Brian Aliganyira, director of a health clinic for the LGBTQ community, share their insights on the consequences of foreign aid cuts. Ruge discusses how funding pauses affect local farmers, employment, and environmental practices. Aliganyira highlights the challenges of providing health services under oppressive laws, particularly the impact on HIV treatment and mental health. Their conversation reveals the urgent need for international support to assist vulnerable communities in navigating these crises.
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USAID's Impact on Ugandan Farmers
- Teddy Ruge's Ugandan farm, supported by USAID, employed 250 farmers and 10 staffers.
- The Trump administration's foreign aid freeze left them jobless, disrupting the supply chain for US companies like Kuli Kuli.
USAID's Ripple Effect on US Businesses
- USAID's impact extends beyond the NGO sector, affecting private companies reliant on their programs.
- Ruge argues that cuts to USAID disrupt supply chains and harm American businesses like Kuli Kuli.
Targeted Violence Against LGBTQ+ Activists
- Brian Aliganyira, who runs a Ugandan LGBTQ+ health clinic, was targeted and run off the road.
- He believes this was due to his work, highlighting the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ advocates in Uganda.