Humanitarian Aid Cuts by Trump Administration Could Lead to Millions of Deaths, Study Warns

Wed Oct 22 2025 08:19:42 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A shocking report reveals that the Trump administration's reductions in global aid could result in over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, disproportionately affecting children.

The recent study published in The Lancet warns that severe cuts to US humanitarian aid could cause widespread mortality in low- and middle-income countries, with childhood deaths accounting for a third of the estimated toll. The report coincides with a significant UN aid conference where the US is notably absent.

The Lancet has published alarming research indicating that President Donald Trump's drastic cuts to U.S. humanitarian aid may lead to an additional 14 million deaths globally by 2030. Researchers estimate that approximately a third of this figure would consist of children, highlighting the potential grave impact on vulnerable populations. Davide Rasella, a co-author of the study from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, emphasized that these reductions pose a threat comparable to that of a global pandemic or major armed conflict.

According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over 80% of programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been terminated. The Trump administration has justified these changes by labeling them as a means to eliminate wasteful government spending. Oversight of these cutbacks was notably linked to billionaire Elon Musk, who was involved in minimizing federal operations at the time.

During his second term, Trump has consistently advocated for aligning overseas expenditures with his "America First" principles. Rasella pointed out that the significant decrease in USAID funding risks derailing two decades of progress in global health, especially in regions that have benefited the most from these programs.

The study predicts that an 83% cut in funding, as suggested by Rubio, could lead to a staggering increase in deaths, including over 4.5 million children under five years old. The report was released amidst a vital UN-led aid conference in Seville, Spain—the largest of its kind in a decade—where the absence of U.S. representation is striking, given America’s status as the premier global humanitarian donor.

With $68 billion spent on international aid in 2023, USAID has long been a cornerstone of global assistance efforts. Unfortunately, following U.S. funding reductions, similar cutbacks have been observed from other donor nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, eliciting widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations.

These funding slashes have already had dire repercussions, as reported by the United Nations. Aid workers described worsening living conditions in affected regions, such as the Kenyan refugee camps where dwindling U.S. support has led to life-threatening food shortages. In Kakuma, a hospital visit revealed heartbreaking instances of malnourished children, showcasing the immediate fallout of these policy changes on human lives.