The Trump administration has initiated a freeze on critical medical supplies for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and newborn care in USAID-supported countries, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters.
This sudden directive, which surfaced on Tuesday, has already reached contractors and partners working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), instructing them to cease operations immediately.
The freeze is part of a comprehensive review of US aid and funding programs implemented since Donald Trump assumed office on January 20.
The administration’s decision affects essential healthcare programs, including those providing lifesaving medications and maternal health supplies worldwide.
Chemonics, a major US consulting firm collaborating with USAID on global medicine distribution, is among the organizations impacted. The memo specifically outlines interruptions in the firm’s efforts to supply treatments for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, contraception, and maternal and child health.
Atul Gawande, a former global health leader at USAID who recently departed from the agency, described the situation as “catastrophic.” He emphasized that donated drug supplies sustaining 20 million individuals living with HIV are now at risk. “That stops today,” Gawande stated, adding that millions of lives could be jeopardized by the disruption.
The cessation of these programs means that clinics funded or stocked by USAID will be unable to deliver medications or remain operational, leaving countless patients untreated. Moreover, the risk of drug-resistant strains of diseases such as HIV could surge, compounding global health challenges.
In addition to treating infectious diseases, USAID-funded programs support 6.5 million orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV across 23 countries.
The halt will cut off critical resources for these children and their caregivers, increasing the burden on already strained healthcare systems.
The Trump administration’s broader directive also includes a 90-day pause on foreign development assistance, pending reviews of program efficiencies and alignment with US foreign policy. As part of this review process, approximately 60 senior career officials at USAID have been placed on leave, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Neither USAID nor Chemonics responded to requests for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, healthcare experts and humanitarian workers have expressed alarm over the consequences of halting these programs. The move not only risks the health of millions but also undermines years of global progress in combating infectious diseases.
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