For more than six decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was America’s primary engine for distributing foreign assistance. USAID has provided critical support for global health initiatives, democracy promotion and civil society strengthening, conflict prevention and stabilization, disaster assistance, food assistance and security, and women’s empowerment among other programs. On January 20, 2025, President Trump announced a pause on all U.S. foreign assistance pending an internal review, which has resulted in an 83% reduction of aid programs. The effects of these funding cuts have already been felt around the world as vaccination, nutritional support and maternal care clinics shutter, and implementing partners layoff staff and close offices for a lack of funds. Beyond funding cuts, recent memos outlining an ‘America First’ approach to foreign assistance, suggest that the justification, strategies, and objectives of foreign aid policy will change as well.

This Teach-In takes stock of U.S. foreign aid to educate the GW community on the broad range of programs that make up foreign assistance portfolios; discuss the significant role of the U.S. in global health, humanitarian, and development assistance and why US withdrawal might significantly transform the United Nations and the international aid ecosystem; consider the impacts of the funding freezes on communities worldwide who depend on foreign aid as well as broader ripple effects; and suggest points to watch in the months ahead.

3:00PM, Elliott School of International Affairs Room 505,Hybrid

Speakers

Steven Hansch, Milken Institute School of Public Health

Timothy Holtz, Redstone Chair, and Director of the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness

Craig Redmond, Chief Executive Officer, Relief International

James Cobey, Founder, Global movement to ban landmines; Founder Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care (G4 Alliance); Professor of Orthopedics, Georgetown University Medical School