A new study warns that the Trump administration’s deep cuts to USAID—the agency responsible for 40% of global humanitarian funding—could have catastrophic consequences, potentially causing 14 million deaths. The report suggests these cuts might undo 20 years of progress in global health, hitting vulnerable populations the hardest.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about budgets—it’s about lives. USAID’s funding supports everything from vaccines to famine relief, and slashing it could mean millions of preventable deaths. If the study’s projections hold, the ripple effects could destabilize entire regions, setting back decades of hard-won progress in fighting disease and poverty. It’s a stark reminder of how policy decisions in one country can have life-or-death consequences worldwide.

President Trump’s stance on foreign aid has been all over the map—literally. Since taking office, he’s slashed budgets for agencies like U.S.A.I.D., calling them wasteful and corrupt, but his opinions have flip-flopped over the years. This piece digs into how his thinking on humanitarian assistance has shifted, from his early political days to now.

Researchers warn that proposed cuts to USAID funding by the Trump administration could have catastrophic consequences, leading to an estimated 14 million deaths globally over the next five years. The reductions would dismantle critical health and humanitarian programs, leaving vulnerable populations without lifesaving aid.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another budget debate—it’s about real lives hanging in the balance. USAID supports everything from famine relief to disease prevention, and slashing its funding could trigger a domino effect of suffering in regions already on the edge. The scale of potential loss is staggering, and it raises tough questions about the human cost of political decisions.