How the USAID Freeze Could Affect Health and Jobs in the U.S.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced that nearly all direct hires will be placed on leave starting Friday at midnight, except for essential workers. This move is part of the agency’s efforts to cut costs, which have been criticized by the Trump administration for being wasteful.
Health Concerns
Health experts are sounding the alarm about the potential consequences of this freeze on global health projects. Dr. Joia Mukherjee, the chief medical officer of nonprofit Partners in Health, warned that “all you need is a person to get on a plane with drug-resistant TB, and that’s very transmissible and very difficult to treat.” The organization receives about 10% of its funding from USAID and employs hundreds of local people in countries like Haiti.
Impact on Local Economies
The freeze will also have a significant impact on local economies. Many community health workers, mostly women, will lose their salaries and will struggle to support their families. Mukherjee noted that “those hundreds of people are community health workers, are mostly women, otherwise very poor, will lose their ability to support their children, pay for school fees, pay for food.”
Farming Industry Concerns
The USAID freeze may also have a significant impact on the farming industry. In fiscal year 2020, USAID bought $2.1 billion of food aid from American farmers. This has been a crucial source of income for many farmers, especially in rural areas.
Farming Industry Reaction
Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union, expressed concerns about the impact of the freeze on the farming industry. “We’re very supportive of it, because it’s a program that does support Kansas, primarily wheat farmers, but also grain sorghum farmers,” he said. “The balance sheet is not figuring out for a lot of farmers right now. They’re struggling financially, and therefore, rural America is struggling. So, it is an issue.”
Employee Impact
The Trump administration has also announced that employees stationed around the world have 30 days to return to the U.S. Workers living in foreign countries can apply for a waiver to stay longer, if they have a special circumstance like children needing to finish out the school year. However, the USAID website’s memo did not specify which employees are considered essential.
Conclusion
The USAID freeze has significant implications for both global health projects and the farming industry in the United States. As the agency’s funding is cut, communities around the world may be left without access to essential services, and American farmers may struggle to make ends meet. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration’s efforts to cut costs will affect the lives of people around the world.
FAQs
* What is the reason for the USAID freeze?
+ The USAID freeze is part of the agency’s efforts to cut costs, which have been criticized by the Trump administration for being wasteful.
* What is the impact on global health projects?
+ The freeze will likely halt many global health projects, including health clinics, clean drinking water, and food assistance for people in poverty.
* What is the impact on the farming industry?
+ The freeze may have a significant impact on the farming industry, as USAID buys $2.1 billion of food aid from American farmers each year.
* How will employees be affected?
+ Employees stationed around the world have 30 days to return to the U.S., and those living in foreign countries can apply for a waiver to stay longer if they have a special circumstance.
