The suspension of tens of billions of dollars in U.S. overseas aid is disrupting critical health programs worldwide, threatening efforts to combat HIV, polio, mpox, and bird flu, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, urged the Trump administration to reconsider the freeze on aid funding, at least temporarily, to prevent severe consequences for global health.
“There are actions that the U.S. government is taking… which we’re concerned are having a serious impact on global health,” he said in a briefing on Wednesday.
The freeze follows President Donald Trump’s move to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), calling its expenditures “totally unexplainable.”
USAID has been a key player in global health initiatives, including PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which provides HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services in 50 countries.
The suspension of PEPFAR, in particular, has led to widespread disruptions. “Clinics are shuttered, and health workers have been put on leave,” Dr. Tedros noted.
Despite limited reprieves for life-saving services, the impact of the cuts remains severe, leaving millions vulnerable.
Global health experts warn that the halt in funding could accelerate the spread of infectious diseases and hinder the development of vaccines and new treatments.
The U.S. has historically been a major contributor to international health programs, and its withdrawal raises concerns about long-term repercussions for disease control worldwide.
As pressure mounts on Washington, advocates are calling for alternative funding solutions to fill the gap left by the aid freeze.
Meanwhile, public health officials caution that delays in intervention could reverse years of progress in combating some of the world’s deadliest diseases.
