The ascent of Donald Trump on 20 January 2025 as the 47th President of the United States has ushered in sweeping changes to both US domestic and foreign policies, guided by his “America First” ideology. It therefore came as no surprise when, shortly after assuming office, Donald Trump, via his newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by billionaire Elon Musk, targeted and swiftly dismantled the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on the purported grounds that USAID squandered American taxpayers’ money by financing the development of foreign nations.

The suspension of US foreign aid and the dismantling of USAID risk endangering the lives of the most vulnerable. It has sent many Global South countries, who are historically beneficiaries of international aid, on soul-searching journeys as they reflect on their dependence on aid money. Regardless of the debate over whether international aid constitutes a form of neocolonialism for extending Western influence in the world’s poorest regions, its role in saving and improving lives by providing food security, healthcare, education, and economic development is indisputable.

The dismantling of USAID portends a retreat from the liberal international order established by the West following World War II. It also has far-reaching implications for UN funding, especially for agencies like UNHCR, which rely heavily on voluntary contributions from donor countries. In 2024, the United States provided over US$2 billion to UNHCR, amounting to one-fifth of the agency’s annual expenditure.

Following the suspension of this funding, UNHCR is staring down a bleak future as it is forced to scale back global operations to stay afloat. As the tap runs dry, the already precarious lives of refugees will be further upended.