The First Year Without USAID: Hunger, Disease, and Preventable Death

For over six decades, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) embodied our nation’s commitment to global progress – strengthening national security, advancing democracy, and saving lives. 

Until last year. 

Within days of taking office, the Trump-Vance administration cratered USAID. They deleted it from the internet, abruptly fired its dedicated public servants, and terminated its life-saving programs – all without any consultation with Congress or the American people. USAID Foreign Service Officers serving abroad were suddenly cut off from Washington and abandoned in the field. The so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s team forced access to classified spaces without proper clearances. Career officials who attempted to do their jobs and block them were placed on leave.

In a matter of weeks, the administration froze foreign aid, sidelined senior leaders, locked staff out of agency systems, and terminated nearly 10,000 projects. By March, almost the entire workforce had been eliminated, effectively erasing USAID.

In a hypercompetitive and unstable world, weakening U.S. development capabilities undercuts our national security, strengthens rivals, and erodes the credibility and leadership that have long amplified American influence.

The consequences of USAID’s dismantling were immediate and catastrophic, felt most acutely abroad but with lasting damage to Americans. 

Children have gone hungry and malnutrition deaths have surged around the world. Emergency feeding centers ran out of therapeutic food, leaving children to starve as supply chains collapsed.

Food aid purchased from American farmers was stranded. The USAID Inspector General, who warned that hundreds of millions of dollars in food aid were at risk of rotting, was fired.

Global child survival gains were reversed. For the first time in 25 years, child mortality from preventable diseases is projected to rise.

HIV/AIDS programs were thrown into crisis. Discontinuing U.S.-supported HIV programs between 2025 and 2029 could result in 6.6 million new infections and 4.2 million AIDS-related deaths, including 300,000 children.

The cuts may have jeopardized counter-terrorism missions against the Islamic State. 

Scientific research was halted, including studies on plant disease outbreaks and climate-resilient crops, threatening global food security.

The long-term death toll is staggering. If cuts continue through 2030, an estimated 14 million people could die, including 4.5 million children.

U.S. strategic influence eroded as China advanced. Chinese state media and online commentators openly celebrated USAID’s demise, while others described it as a gift to China.

These are not abstract projections or isolated incidents. They are the documented, predictable consequences of dismantling the world’s largest development and humanitarian agency. 

Through Democracy Forward’s Civil Service Strong and Democracy Works 250 initiatives, we are documenting the harms caused by attacks on national security agencies like USAID, and advancing a vision to rebuild and safeguard U.S. development and humanitarian capabilities. Working alongside former public servants and partners across the development and foreign policy community, unions, and organizations like Democracy Forward who fought for this critical workforce, we are capturing lessons learned and helping lay the groundwork for renewal.

As former USAID staff, we are honored to be part of this effort. We invite you to join us.