Attachments
OVERVIEW
On 10 March 2025 – seven weeks into the 90-day pause and foreign aid review announced via executive order on 20 January 2025 – the US Government announced that it had cancelled more than 80% of all USAID programmes globally (Reuters 10/03/2025; WH 20/01/2025). These cancellations followed a series of stop-work orders (SWOs) issued on 24 January on all US-funded aid activities (NPR 24/01/2025). Despite a waiver for life-saving humanitarian assistance announced on 28 January for some programming categories, some organisations still terminated programmes even without receiving a termination notice because of the unclear communication and implementation of the waiver (US DOS 28/01/2025; JAS 24/02/2025 b). Almost all USAID direct hires have since been placed on administrative leave, and NGOs and UN agencies with US-funded programmes have begun to receive termination notices (OIG 10/02/2025; The Times 03/02/2025; The Guardian 25/03/2025; Devex 26/02/2025; NBC 28/02/2025).
On 17 March, a leaked memo indicated the planned dissolution of USAID by 30 September and the creation of a new US Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance under the State Department, focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster response, global health, and food security (Robert Nichols LinkedIn 19/03/2025; Devex 17/03/2025). The memo suggests a heavy emphasis on results-driven programming, particularly around life-saving humanitarian aid.
Programmes focused on democracy, religious freedom, women’s empowerment, civil society, and conflict prevention or stabilisation will be integrated into State Department bureaus and offices (Robert Nichols LinkedIn 19/03/2025). According to an updated list of terminated and retained awards shared with US Congress, 36% of US funding to Afghanistan has been cut (including humanitarian, private companies, and USAID costs themselves) (CGD 26/03/2025).
ACAPS’ own review of the data suggests that nearly half (47%) of all humanitarian funding from the US Government has been cut. That said, it is not clear if the list is up-to-date because some organisations’ funding cuts are not reflected in the document.
The US has played a major role in funding humanitarian response in Afghanistan, making up 43.9% of all reported humanitarian funding in the country (OCHA accessed 30/01/2025). This is complemented by substantive support for development and security (more than USD 657 million since 2022) (SIGAR 30/01/2025). The sudden and disruptive nature of the US aid freeze and subsequent cuts means considerable gaps in funding for Afghanistan. Although the potential long-term impacts of the funding cuts are not yet clear, if alternative sources of funding are not found, there is likely to be an increase in humanitarian needs alongside reduced access to vital services and the rolling back of hard-earned development gains to reduce aid dependency.