Trump’s Crackdown on Foreign Aid Could Backfire on the U.S.
Back in the White House, Trump is going after U.S. foreign aid hard. One of his first big moves? Shutting down USA I’d the agency that’s been sending out crucial humanitarian help around the world. That decision risks cutting off life-saving support and shaking up America’s relationships with 160 countries.
This all ties back to Trump’s “America First” approach. He’s trying to show that the U.S. won’t support what he calls “freeloaders.” But here’s the thing foreign aid has long been a major tool for boosting U.S. influence, helping stabilize other countries, and keeping global health and security risks in check.
What’s USAID’s Role, Anyway?
USAID is basically the U.S.’s main arm for providing foreign aid think disaster relief, food, healthcare, and climate support. In 2023 alone, the U.S. handed out over $70 billion in aid, with USAID managing two-thirds of it.
Foreign aid has been a key part of American foreign policy since the Cold War. The idea is that helping others helps us, too. But Trump doesn’t buy it he’s called USAID a mess run by “radical lunatics.” In January, his administration halted all USAID-managed aid, and by March, they had canceled most of its programs and contracts.
Critics including health experts and even the Supreme Court are calling this a dangerous overreach. A court has already ordered the government to cough up $2 billion in aid payments. Still, Trump’s cuts have hit hard.
Misleading the Public
Trump paints foreign aid as a huge budget drain, and polls show many Americans believe it takes up 20% of the budget. The real number? Just over 1%. In fact, the U.S. gives the least amount of foreign aid relative to income among G7 countries.
The Bigger Risks
Pulling back aid doesn’t just hurt other countries it can hurt the U.S. too. Health experts warn that cutting ties with disease-fighting organizations abroad makes it harder to stop outbreaks before they reach the U.S. One example: dropping support for Africa’s CDC could increase the risk of the Mpox virus turning into a global pandemic.
Foreign aid also tackles issues that push people to migrate poverty, violence, food shortages, and disasters. Cutting aid could actually make illegal immigration worse by making conditions more desperate in some countries.
Losing Global Influence
There’s an economic angle, too. Many of the countries the U.S. used to help are now major buyers of American goods. So ending aid could shrink important markets and hurt U.S. producers.
Then there’s the national security piece. Aid has helped slow down extremist recruitment and keep unstable regions in check. If the U.S. steps back, countries like China and Russia could step in and gain more influence.
Bottom Line
Sure, foreign aid isn’t perfect. But cutting it so dramatically, especially without a backup plan, is risky. It could weaken American influence, damage relationships, and even put the country’s health and security in jeopardy. What Trump sees as a “waste” might actually be one of the U.S.’s best tools for staying strong in a messy world.
