Trump Administration Wastes Billions to Finish Shutting Down USAID, Risks Hundreds of Thousands of Lives

The Trump administration’s relentless campaign to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is now costing billions—and human lives. According to a CNN report, the administration is attempting to redirect $2 billion originally meant for global health programs toward covering legal fees, invoices, and asset sales tied to the agency’s shutdown.

Congress had earmarked $1.2 billion of these funds for international development and the rest for vital health initiatives addressing malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and global health security. Diverting this money threatens catastrophic consequences. Estimates from the Health Security Policy Academy warn that this move could lead to 121,000 preventable tuberculosis deaths and 47,600 preventable malaria deaths. Additionally, 22.9 million children under five could lose access to critical nutrition, and 5.7 million women may be deprived of safe childbirth services.

This grim toll compounds the mounting death count already linked to USAID’s dismantling. As of November, experts estimate that 762,000 lives have been lost due to cuts in USAID programs, including over 500,000 children.

The administration informed Congress last month that it has set aside more than $19.1 billion in USAID funds to complete the agency’s closure. This blatant disregard for the intended use of taxpayer dollars has provoked a sharp response from Democrats. Seventeen senators penned a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, and acting USAID administrator Eric Ueland demanding the funds be used as Congress intended—to save lives and protect U.S. interests.

“The Administration should immediately begin using these foreign assistance funds to deliver results for the American people,” the senators wrote. “There is no reason for this FY25 funding to be withheld to cover the wasteful costs this Administration has incurred because it chose to dismantle USAID.”

This episode underscores a broader pattern of the Trump administration prioritizing political vendettas and dismantling key institutions over practical governance and human welfare. Shutting down USAID not only undermines global health security but also damages America’s standing and influence worldwide—while costing hundreds of thousands of lives that could have been saved.

In short, Trump’s war on USAID is a deadly misallocation of billions in public funds, and it demands urgent accountability.