Trump’s First 50 Days in Office Trigger Global Concerns Over Aid Cuts

Nairobi, Kenya – In a dramatic shift within just 50 days, President Donald Trump’s administration has suspended more than 90% of U.S. foreign aid contracts, triggering chaos and concern among communities across the globe that rely on this support for basic health and welfare services.

Health workers in Kenya have voiced fears that cuts to U.S. aid equate to an act of “biological warfare,” with epidemic risks soaring as critical health resources dwindle. The situation has become dire for populations dependent on consistent medical aid, most notably in the fight against diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio.

During recent interviews with residents in Nairobi’s impoverished neighborhoods, health worker Martha recounted the sudden suspension of funds: “We had no warning. We could not prepare the households. It was so sudden,” she said. Martha warned that increased childhood mortality rates are expected due to the loss of crucial funding.

Young mother Anne, who is HIV positive, expressed her anxiety regarding the future of her health and that of her one-year-old son, both reliant on American aid. “If it carries on like this the medication could run out. When the medicine is not there, the protector of my body is not there, so anything can just pass through me,” she said.

The Trump administration has suggested that this financial support is merely on a 90-day hold while a review is completed. However, critics argue that many essential programs appear to have been halted permanently.

In Kisumu, another area dependent on U.S. aid, a local hospital reported dwindling medication supplies, with just two months of certain treatments remaining. Doctors expressed concern over panicking patients stockpiling drugs amid uncertainty.

“When you look at it from a public health aspect, that’s biological warfare,” asserted Eric Okioma, who runs an HIV charity in Kisumu. He emphasized the moral implications behind the abrupt cuts, highlighting that it undermines human rights.

While Trump maintains a degree of popularity in Kenya, stemming from conservative views on issues aligning with local values, the cuts have also sparked alarm among his supporters. Churchgoer Peter Gunday acknowledged the need for Kenya to become less reliant on foreign aid but criticized the abruptness of the cuts: “He wants to make America great again… but give an olive branch to us even if it is only for some time.”

With U.S. aid playing a significant role in wielding American soft power and influence, experts warn that Trump’s decision to cut off funding may yield long-term consequences for global health, as well as for the United States’ international standing. The halt of aid signifies a broader retreat from the traditional role America has played in supporting allies and developing nations.