Update on US foreign aid freeze and what you can do

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TBFighters Newsletter
February 03, 2025

Hi TBFighters,

Thank you to everyone who has called or emailed your representatives this week! This public pressure does matter and has already made a difference. Please keep it up! We’re also asking residents of 22 states to contact their attorneys general. You can find more resources for both of these asks at the bottom of this email. 

This email has gone through many iterations because updates have been coming more quickly than we could process what has happened. By the time you read this, some other formerly unprecedented action might have occurred. Regardless, the actions we suggest below are a way for you to help that makes a difference. Our collective power works, but only if we use it.

What is going on?

US government actions over the past week have been confusing, including for those directly affected by them. The situation has also been evolving rapidly. Here’s a brief summary of the developments in foreign aid funding as of Monday morning.

What has happened so far:

  • January 20: The Trump administration issued an executive order that paused new foreign aid spending for 90 days. The administration also issued a stop-work order on foreign aid for the State Department and USAID.

  • January 27: 57 members of USAID staff were suddenly removed from their roles.

  • January 28: After intense public pressure (including from you!), Sec. of State Marco Rubio announced waivers for life-saving aid. These waivers have barely begun to be implemented and it remains unclear how narrowly “life-saving” will be defined. 

  • February 1: The USAID website was taken completely offline.

  • February 3: USAID staffers were told the headquarters building will be closed today. Staffers also report that they have been locked out of USAID computer systems.

The impact:

  • Programs around the world remain fully shuttered. Organizations cannot even spend money they have already received or distribute medications already sitting on their shelves. These actions will cost lives and endanger people across the world.

What could be next:

  • The Trump administration has started to take steps toward dissolving USAID or moving it under state department control. USAID as an agency was mandated in law by congress and attempts to unilaterally abolish it by the executive branch would be illegal.

Meanwhile, domestic health and science programs face similar risks due to a slew of executive orders and memos released over the last two weeks.

"The funding freeze means no access to medicines and other humanitarian aid" Money with icicles dripping off it, and an equals sign connecting it to a crossed out pill bottle

What should I do?

Continue to reach out to your representatives—daily, if possible—and demand politely that they take action. We’ve created a phone call script focused on protecting USAID. This call tool from PIH about the federal “stop work” orders is also updated regularly.

We’ve had some questions about talking to representatives that are less likely to value foreign aid for altruistic reasons. We encourage you to remind them that the destruction of foreign aid is a serious national security risk.

If you live in one of the 22 states (or D.C.) in green below, we’re also asking you to call your state’s attorney general. Ask them to get clarity from the judge in State of NY et al v Donald Trump et al No 1:25-cv-39 in the US District Court of RI. If foreign aid is included in the temporary restraining order it would give a crucial reprieve to the organizations affected by the stop work order.

A map with states part of the DOJ suit highlighted in green. Those states are: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts. New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., and North Carolina

We’re holding a few more group calling sessions this week. These offer you an opportunity to get advice from your fellow TBFighters and share experiences of how your calls go. They’re fun! Feel free to join all, one, or none:

Closing thoughts

In a talk with Results advocates on Saturday (watch the recording here), Dr. Atul Gawande ended his section by reminding the audience that “there is always a way forward.” Even small actions matter, and each action we take is amplified by community and collaboration. By working together, we can make a real impact and help create a future where health care is accessible to all, and nobody dies of tuberculosis. 

DFTBA,
TBFighters