How Stupid Is This? Fourteen Million People May Die Because of Foreign Aid Cuts
There are three perverted morals to this story.
Yesterday (June 30, 2025), the medical journal The Lancet released a study estimating that there may be fourteen million deaths by the year 2030 due to cuts to USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development).
“USAID funding has significantly contributed to the reduction in adult and child mortality across low-income and middle-income countries over the past two decades. Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030.” https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext
So what are government officials saying?
Surprise! A link to the U.S. Department of State’s website regarding USAID (https://www.state.gov/policy-issues/u-s-agency-for-international-development-usaid) comes back with an error code.
The agency’s own website (www.usaid.gov) carries only a terse statement about the February 23rd riffing (Reduction In Force) of approximately 1,600 staff. The last line advises that “additional guidance is forthcoming.” Oooookay. Still waiting!
How can the prospect of fourteen million needless deaths possibly advance U.S. foreign policy interests?
There are three perverted morals to this story.
Stonewall your dogma. And your arrogance. And your stupidity.
You may just get away with it!
Background on USAID: https://www.britannica.com/topic/US-Agency-for-International-Development