Q&A: The dismantling of US global aid is a cascading crisis, say experts

Article excerpt

The 2025 executive order that dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development programs has canceled 90% of USAID's contracts and grants, destabilizing health systems globally, according to experts quoted in this Q&A. The sudden withdrawal of funding affects disease surveillance, vaccine distribution, and maternal health services across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Health officials warn that the cuts risk reigniting disease outbreaks that U.S. aid had previously controlled. The article frames the decision as triggering a "cascading crisis" with cascading effects on pandemic preparedness and public health infrastructure in developing nations.