Millions learn that U.S. promise to continue life-saving foreign aid was false
U.S. foreign aid freeze has already caused an estimated 3,000 new HIV infections in adults.
Millions of people who are starving or at risk of HIV are learning that the Trump administration made a hollow promise when it vowed to continue “life-saving humanitarian assistance” as part of its now largely demolished and frozen foreign aid program.
As the Washington Post reported, late last month Secretary of State Marco Rubio “promised that ‘lifesaving humanitarian assistance’ programs could continue. But almost no programs have been able to operate because the agency’s payment system does not function, meaning partner groups cannot get funds.”
The State Department defined “life-saving humanitarian assistance” as “core lifesaving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance.”
But the U.N. anti-AIDS agency UNAIDS estimated last week that more than 3,000 new HIV infections in adults have occurred worldwide as a result of the Trump administration’s aid freeze.
In South Africa alone, the freeze is expected to result in the birth of 230 H.I.V.-positive babies per day.
In a commentary headlined “As Fellow Pro-Lifers, We Are Begging Marco Rubio to Save Foreign Aid” four foreign aid experts stated: “[B]ank and email accounts have been locked, invoices are not being paid and there’s no way to fund ongoing work. Organizations on the ground need formal clearance to operate, but, in many cases, the U.S.A.I.D. workers who provide that clearance were placed on leave. … As a result, clinics are closing their doors and rationing what little medication they have left. …[A] mission hospital in Kenya … since the Jan. 24 stop-work order has seen no funds for its more than 3,160 H.I.V. patients and the 42 workers serving them.”
Those are a few of the 20 million women, children and LGBTQ people who were receiving HIV-fighting antiretroviral medications that were funded by the American foreign aid agency USAID.
While President Trump and his allies dismantled USAID, some people running its programs had thought they would be able to continue feeding the hungry and providing anti-AIDS medications to needy patients. But that hope has faded.
“[S]ome believed they would be spared because they manage key programs deemed exempt from President Donald Trump’s global aid freeze. One official who manages food programs in three countries was placed on leave even though he was the only remaining USAID official managing the exempt programs,” the Washington Post reported. ” ‘I’m shocked,’ the official told The Post. ‘My programs will have to stop.’ ”
The Devex news service reported on the reversal of a court order that had raised the possibility of rescue for life-saving programs that millions depend on.
“After a judge ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze existing aid programs and get money flowing again to USAID partners, the government bit back, stating it is within its rights to terminate hundreds of agreements … It means funding won’t likely be restored to most organizations anytime soon, if ever.”
Although USAID was established by Congress and its funding was authorized by Congress in legislation that was enacted and never retracted, the Trump administration refuses to abide by those laws. The new Republican majority in Congress has not objected and so far no court action has halted the Trump destruction train.
Late last month, Mr. Rubio promised that “lifesaving humanitarian assistance” programs could continue. But almost no programs have been able to operate because the agency’s payment system does not function, meaning partner groups cannot get funds.
In court documents filed yesterday, the administration said the temporary restraining order that lifted the blanket freeze on foreign aid funds also said that normal contract clauses can be enforced — an argument the government has latched on to terminate nearly 500 USAID grants, contracts, and other awards since Jan. 22.
“Following its review process and consistent with the terms and conditions of the relevant instruments, USAID intends to terminate instruments that [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] determines are inconsistent with the national interests of USAID’s mission,” Peter Marocco, acting USAID deputy administrator, wrote in a recently filed court declaration.
Marocco explained that contracts were terminated for a variety of reasons, including that they focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainability and climate change; and regime change, civic society, or democracy promotion.
Moreover, the government is embarking on a review of all agreements for waste, fraud, or abuse, which is likely to further drag out the payment process.
During a recent … briefing, lawyer Robert Nichols predicted the government would refuse to pay its bills based on Marocco’s assertions.
“When they deem the whole agency and its implementing partners criminals, and say this is all fraud and waste, they’re teeing up the ability to not pay the bills and to have some argument that even if court says you have to pay your bills, they say, ‘Well, we’re paying them. We’re just making sure there’s no fraud and waste in there first,’” Nichols said.
After the government filed its rebuttal, the plaintiffs — including for-profit contractors and NGOs — promptly filed an emergency motion to enforce the temporary restraining order and hold the government in civil contempt.
“The report makes the remarkable assertion that Defendants have reviewed thousands of affected State Department and USAID grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, and concludes that — despite this Court’s unambiguous order — terminating nearly all foreign assistance funding was legal,” states their document.
