One million children risk malnutrition, malaria deaths as Trump threatens USAID cut-off
Over one million children face the threat of severe malnutrition and preventable disease as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), overseas
According to the directive issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all overseas USAID roles will be eliminated by 30 September, transferring the agency’s entire foreign assistance portfolio to the State Department. The shift, outlined in a diplomatic cable obtained by The Guardian UK, signals an unprecedented withdrawal of American development assistance at a time of mounting global humanitarian crises.
The cable states that the State Department is “streamlining procedures” to end all USAID foreign operations, a decision that will affect thousands of employees and programmes across more than 100 countries.
Humanitarian experts have warned of catastrophic consequences, with internal USAID projections suggesting that the cuts could leave up to one million children untreated for malnutrition, potentially result in 160,000 malaria-related deaths, and cause an additional 200,000 polio cases over the next decade.
“This is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle – this is a death sentence for some of the world’s most vulnerable children,” said one senior aid official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal.
The move follows a months-long purge of USAID’s operations under Trump’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge), a restructuring task force led by billionaire Elon Musk. In March, Rubio announced that 5,200 of USAID’s 6,200 global initiatives had already been axed, sparking international outcry.
President Trump, who returned to office in January, signed an executive order on his first day back freezing all foreign aid. Though a narrow waiver was later granted for emergency humanitarian programmes, the long-term future of US development aid has remained uncertain.
Further signs of USAID’s demise emerged in February when its website was abruptly taken offline and employees were locked out of headquarters. Staff were later instructed not to return to work, and agency servers were reportedly dismantled over a weekend.
According to internal correspondence, remaining officials were told in March to destroy sensitive documents. “Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” read one email from Erica Y Carr, USAID’s acting secretary.
Rubio has since declared himself the agency’s interim administrator – a move that critics say consolidates political control over what was once an independent body dedicated to poverty reduction, public health and disaster relief.
The restructuring comes amid rising misinformation about the agency’s work. Musk, who has taken a central role in the overhaul, falsely claimed in March that USAID had spent $50 million distributing condoms in Gaza, a claim later proven to be fabricated.
Experts say the consequences will be most acutely felt in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America, where USAID has been the lead implementing body for life-saving health and nutrition programmes for decades.
“This is a tragic dismantling of America’s legacy of compassion and smart diplomacy,” said a former USAID official. “The ripple effects will be felt for generations.”
Despite repeated requests, the State Department declined to comment on the restructuring.
USAID, founded in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy, has long served as the civilian arm of US foreign policy, delivering billions in aid annually to support democratic governance, economic development and emergency response.
The agency has played a central role in the global fight against diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and polio.
