US Official Warns of Fatalities from USAID Funding Cuts and is Placed on Leave

Mon 3rd Mar, 2025
A senior official from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued a warning regarding the potential global repercussions of funding cuts to USAID programs. Following this alert, the official announced his immediate leave from the agency. Nicholas Enrich, who works in USAID's global health division, sent an internal memo to colleagues on Sunday, expressing concerns that the programs halted by the Trump administration included critical initiatives aimed at controlling a deadly Ebola outbreak in Uganda. The memo, which has been reviewed by Reuters, spans seven pages and addresses the grave implications of these funding cuts. Enrich's memo, dated February 28, suggests that the cessation of these initiatives would inevitably lead to preventable deaths, destabilization, and significant threats to national security. Shortly after sending this memo, Enrich informed his colleagues via another email that he had been placed on leave, although it remains unclear if there is a direct connection between these events. Spokespersons for the U.S. State Department and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, have not provided immediate comments regarding the situation. The Trump administration has been vocal in its criticism of USAID, with the President asserting that the agency has previously been managed by individuals he refers to as 'radical crazies.' Musk has similarly condemned USAID as a 'den of radical leftist Marxists who hate America' and labeled it a 'criminal organization.' Following the President's inauguration, a decree was issued to freeze U.S. foreign aid for a duration of 90 days, although some exceptions for humanitarian assistance were later approved. Recently, USAID announced significant staff reductions, indicating that approximately 1,600 employees in the U.S. would be terminated or placed on leave, with the remainder of the global workforce facing similar measures, effective immediately. The ongoing cuts to USAID's operations have raised alarms among various humanitarian organizations, which fear the implications of reduced funding on critical health programs worldwide. The internal communication from Enrich has shed light on the potential fallout from these decisions, emphasizing the urgent need for a reassessment of the current aid strategy to mitigate the risks associated with these funding cuts.

More Quick Read Articles »