Foreign health aid freezes are costing thousands of Americans their jobs and damaging millions of lives globally. Two of the major pillars of foreign health support, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and US Agency for International Development (USAID), have been upended and dismantled through recent executive orders. This turn of events not only shuts off access to life-saving support systems for global communities, it also greatly exacerbates the risk of overseas pathogens infiltrating communities within the U.S. (such as the recent tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City). It’s clear that adequate allocation in health funding is crucial for both human livelihood and American security.
Despite the executive orders compromising support for these programs, courts have consistently ruled these orders as unconstitutional in nature. A 2024 survey found that the majority of Americans support U.S. involvement to curtail infectious diseases, showing broad support for the goals embodied by PEPFAR and USAID. Since it was founded by George W. Bush in 2003, PEPFAR has been credited with saving upwards of 25 million lives and providing HIV testing to more than 64 million people in 50 countries, while remaining highly cost-effective at less than 0.1% of the U.S. Federal Spending Budget. The program has long garnered bipartisan support, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham remarking that “…it’s turned a death sentence into an opportunity to have a meaningful life.” Similarly, USAID, which works to strengthen the impact of PEPFAR and several other health programs, represents the U.S’ commitment to global health leadership, collective economic growth and national security.
The current circumstances do not reflect the interests of everyday Americans, and it is imperative for us to make our voices heard. All it takes is a call or an email to your members of Congress, such as Representative Joe Courtney, urging them to push for an end to the freeze on USAID and PEPFAR. With your help, we can ensure the survival of current and future generations, protecting the health of citizens within America and beyond. Thank you for taking action, and we hope to seek your support during this critical time.
Sibi Pandian is a 4th year undergraduate majoring in biomedical engineering. He is the advocacy lead for the organization Partners in Health Engage UConn.