Trump Stops USAID, WHO Warns Global Health Crisis Due To TB

JAKARTA - The decision by the administration of the President of the United States, Donald Trump to stop US foreign aid, could hinder progress in countering tuberculosis (TBC) in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that millions of lives are now threatened by the policy.

"Without immediate action, achievements in the fight against TB can be in vain. We must respond quickly, strategically, and with sufficient resources to protect vulnerable groups and maintain momentum in efforts to end TB," said Tereza Kasaeva, WHO Global Program Director for TBC and Lung Health. .

International assistance, especially from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has succeeded in preventing about 3.65 million deaths from TB last year.

According to WHO, the US has historically accounted for about a quarter of the total international funding for the TB program, which is around 200 to 250 million US dollars (Rp3.2 - Rp4 billion) annually.

The suspension of funds from USAID also caused the cessation of all trials they paid for, thus hampering the development of TB research.

This funding disruption poses a risk to 18 countries with the highest TB burden, especially in Africa, followed by Southeast Asia and the West Pacific. These areas rely heavily on 89% of the US funds expected for TB treatment.

The discontinuation of these funds has had a direct impact on important services in affected countries, such as testing and monitoring systems, drug supply chains, and the threat of layoffs for thousands of health workers.

Amid these concerns, the US Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, rejected the Trump administration's request to withhold payments to foreign aid organizations for the services they have provided to the government. This decision is expected to ease the impact of the policy of discontinuing the funds.