WASHINGTON, March 3 (Alliance News): A senior US Agency for International Development (USAID) official warned that the Trump administration’s dismantling of the agency would lead to unnecessary deaths—only to be placed on administrative leave shortly after.
Nicholas Enrich, USAID’s acting assistant administrator for global health, stated in a seven-page memo that political interference had made it impossible to deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid.
His claims directly contradicted Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assurances that foreign aid would continue despite President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s cost-cutting measures.
Less than 30 minutes after sending the memo, Enrich informed staff that he had been placed on administrative leave. A source indicated that the decision had been made before he sent his warning email.
The USAID cuts, which eliminate nearly 90% of its global programs, include efforts to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Enrich warned that these measures could lead to tens of thousands of preventable deaths, destabilization, and security threats. Since February 14, he noted, no lifesaving health activities have been approved, with bureaucratic obstacles preventing funding even for programs that received waivers.
The Trump administration’s decision to cancel nearly $60 billion in foreign aid has sparked concerns about the long-term impact on global health and security, with humanitarian efforts thrown into disarray.
