Cutting USAID Threatens Public Health around the World
Apr 4, 2025
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Tanya Lewis, Senior health and medicine editor at Scientific American, dives into the alarming plans to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She highlights the critical impact of USAID on global health, especially how funding cuts could jeopardize immunization and life-saving programs for children. Lewis discusses the risks of increased disease prevalence, including drug-resistant strains, and underlines the vital role of sustained support for vulnerable populations. The conversation reveals the far-reaching consequences of shifting public health priorities.
Recent cuts to USAID threaten critical public health programs worldwide, risking increased mortality from diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
Eliminating USAID funding not only impacts health but also poses broader societal challenges, affecting education and economic stability in recipient countries.
Deep dives
The Role and Impact of USAID
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) plays a crucial role in providing foreign aid and health assistance to countries worldwide, particularly in areas like child health and maternal health. Founded by President John F. Kennedy, its programs aim to address health care needs, facilitating access to essential services such as vaccinations and antibiotics. For instance, studies have shown that countries receiving substantial USAID funding experienced significantly lower child mortality rates compared to those with minimal or no aid, potentially saving millions of children's lives over the years. These impactful initiatives highlight the importance of USAID in promoting global health and welfare.
Funding Cuts and Their Consequences
Recent cuts to USAID funding, initiated under the Trump administration, have raised serious concerns about the long-term effects on global health initiatives. These cuts have resulted in the termination of contracts and layoffs, jeopardizing critical programs designed to combat diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. Without USAID's support, which includes funding for HIV and AIDS treatments through programs like PEPFAR, the ability to deliver life-saving medications is severely compromised. This sudden withdrawal of resources is likely to lead to increased mortality rates and broader public health crises, affecting both recipient countries and global stability.
Global Implications of Health Interventions
The repercussions of eliminating USAID funding extend beyond immediate health outcomes and have broader societal implications. Lack of access to essential health services can lead to educational and economic challenges, as illness directly affects people's ability to work and thrive. Moreover, the potential rise of infectious diseases due to insufficient vaccination and treatment could result in public health threats that reach far beyond national borders. This interconnectedness underscores the necessity of sustaining foreign aid efforts not only for moral and humanitarian reasons but also to maintain global security and prevent future crises.
The U.S. Department of State recently announced plans to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. While some of USAID’s functions will continue under the Department of State, there is real concern that the cuts will jeopardize public health efforts across the world, including immunization programs and other efforts that have saved the lives of millions of children. Senior health and medicine editor Tanya Lewis joins host Rachel Feltman to explore the agency’s lifesaving programs and to discuss the devastating effects that will occur when the U.S. divests from global public health efforts.
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Tanya Lewis. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.