Washington

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that his administration has reduced funding for the US International Development Agency and its global aid initiatives.

During a joint appearance with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, Trump faced questions from reporters regarding the impact of these reductions, particularly in Africa.

“It’s devastating, and I hope people will start investing more money,” Trump remarked from the Oval Office.

“I’ve had discussions with other nations. We want them to spend money—that’s a significant issue across many regions. There’s a lot going on. The US consistently asks for funds, while others seem less willing to help.”

The State Department, which oversees USAID, did not respond to inquiries right away. The administration defends the cuts by emphasizing a focus on eliminating wasteful spending. USAID, which has faced its share of controversies, including multiple federal lawsuits, has been notably connected to Elon Musk, a businessman originally from South Africa.

The United States stands as the largest donor of humanitarian aid globally, contributing around 38% of all recorded donations according to the UN. Last year, total US foreign aid amounted to $61 billion, with USAID accounting for just over half of that sum.

In 2023, the US allocated $500 million toward aid for South Africa, mainly targeting healthcare. However, recent data indicates that much of this funding has been withdrawn, although the exact details remain uncertain.

These funding cuts significantly affect South Africa’s efforts to combat the HIV epidemic, as the country bears the highest HIV burden in the world, with roughly eight million individuals (about one in five adults) living with the virus.

Before these reductions, Washington was responsible for 17% of South Africa’s HIV budget. Since then, both testing and monitoring of HIV patients in the country have reportedly suffered.