MONROVIA – Liberia is dealing with rising uncertainty following the Trump administration’s suspension of all USAID-funded tasks worldwide. The transfer has triggered widespread concern amongst authorities officers, civil society organizations, and residents, because it threatens important applications in well being, schooling, media, and governance. Now, with the administration contemplating a whole shutdown of USAID operations, Liberia is bracing for extreme financial and social fallout.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh | [email protected]
A Consequential Decision with Far-Reaching Impact
The U.S. State Department, justifying the suspension, said that USAID had “strayed from its original mission of responsibly advancing American interests abroad” and urged reassessing whether or not U.S. overseas help aligns with America’s core priorities.
The choice has despatched shockwaves throughout Liberia, the place USAID funds a good portion of important providers. The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has warned that it may undermine democratic progress, notably media independence and civic engagement.
“The decision by the U.S. government is very consequential,” stated Julius Kanubah, President of the PUL. “USAID funding through Internews has supported media independence and created an enabling environment for journalists. Without this support, media reforms will be severely constrained, affecting democratic governance.”
Founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID has performed an important position in world growth. In Liberia, its influence is clear throughout varied sectors, together with well being, schooling, and governance. However, the Trump administration is pushing to realign the company’s work with its “America First” coverage. Almost all USAID actions have been frozen, and the company’s web site has been taken down at its headquarters and throughout its missions, together with Liberia’s.
On Monday, tech billionaire Elon Musk introduced that he and President Donald Trump had been working to close down USAID as a part of the administration’s broader effort to chop federal spending. Musk, the world’s richest man and a detailed Trump ally, leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a particular fee established by Trump by way of government order to scale back authorities paperwork.
The U.S. Digital Service, created by President Barack Obama in 2014 to modernize authorities know-how, has now been renamed the U.S. DOGE Service underneath Musk’s management. Following his appointment, Musk took to his social media platform, X (previously Twitter), to substantiate USAID’s impending closure.
“We’re shutting it down,” he posted. Later, he reiterated, “We’re in the process of shutting down USAID.”
Musk didn’t make clear what authorized authority the White House has to unilaterally dismantle a federal company with out congressional approval or how rapidly the administration plans to proceed. However, he asserted that Trump had given his full backing.
“I actually checked with him a few times and asked, ‘Are you sure?’” Musk stated. “He responded, ‘Yes.’”
While the White House has remained silent, the State Department reaffirmed its stance on Monday, stating that USAID has lengthy deviated from its mission and {that a} evaluate of its overseas help applications is underway.
“As an interim step toward gaining control and better understanding of USAID’s activities, President Trump has appointed Secretary Marco Rubio as Acting Administrator,” the assertion famous.
Congress Pushes Back
Democratic lawmakers have vowed to combat again in opposition to the administration’s efforts. On Monday, U.S. senators and representatives rallied outdoors USAID’s shuttered headquarters in Washington, D.C., condemning Musk’s actions.
“We are not going to let this injustice happen,” stated Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia. “Congress created this agency through the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. If you want to change it, you need to change that law.”
Liberia on the Edge
USAID funds a variety of applications in Liberia, together with maternal and little one well being, malaria prevention, instructor coaching, civil service reform, and financial growth initiatives. However, with the company’s Liberia mission web site down, the precise variety of affected tasks stays unclear.
Sources informed FrontPage Africa that just about all USAID-sponsored applications in Liberia have been halted. This consists of an $11 million dedication to help Liberia’s media sector and the $75 million Liberia Foundational Skills Activity, which aimed to enhance schooling.
Health Sector in Crisis
The USAID suspension has triggered alarm in Liberia’s well being sector, which depends closely on U.S. funding for important providers. A senior Ministry of Health official, talking anonymously, described the state of affairs as dire.
“USAID investments have played a crucial role in reducing maternal and child mortality, expanding immunization, and combating diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and Lassa fever,” the official stated.
One of probably the most urgent considerations is the administration of the Central Medical Store (CMS), which was beforehand overseen by USAID in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Liberian authorities is now scrambling to safe $300,000 to distribute important medicines throughout the nation.
Economic Shock and Job Losses
Beyond the well being and media sectors, the USAID shutdown is anticipated to ship financial shockwaves all through Liberia.
Brenda Brewer Moore, Executive Director of Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), described the sudden halt in funding as a devastating blow to Liberia’s growth.
“Most people working in development in Liberia, specifically those in USAID-funded projects, were in shock when the Stop Work Order was issued,” she wrote on her Facebook web page.
More, whose group’s studying undertaking has benefitted from USAID funding, warned that until different funding is secured, many important tasks will likely be pressured to close down, resulting in additional financial hardships.
“Local businesses that benefited from USAID-funded activities will suffer. Jobs are at risk. Families will feel the pinch,” she added.
Calls for Government Action
As panic spreads, transparency advocates are urging Liberian leaders to take swift motion. Anderson Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), referred to as the suspension a wake-up name for Liberia to scale back its dependence on overseas support.
“President Trump’s Stop Work Order on USAID-funded programs in Liberia is a bitter-sweet decision. It will hurt us, but it should also push us to make better use of our domestic resources,” Miamen stated.
He additionally criticized Liberia’s political management for its lack of urgency in addressing the disaster.
“Have our senators and representatives begun discussing solutions? Has the executive branch started exploring ways to mitigate the impact? Have citizens started demanding answers?” he requested.
An Uncertain Future for Liberia’s Development
With the Trump administration’s evaluate nonetheless ongoing, Liberia’s future stays unsure. The closing choice will decide whether or not USAID funding is deemed vital for advancing American pursuits.
Until then, Liberia faces the grim actuality of stalled growth tasks, financial pressure, and a possible governance disaster. As authorities officers and civil society teams scramble for options, many concern the worst is but to return.