Media Group Welcomes Government’s Efforts To Address U.S. Gov’t’s Suspension of Foreign AID Impacts

By: Staff Writer

Monrovia-Liberia, January 6, 2025: The Liberia Health and Rights Journalists Network (LHRJN), formerly Anti-AIDS Media Network (AAMIN), has welcomed immediate step by the Government of Liberia through the Liberian Senate to engage relevant ministries and agencies regarding the potential impacts of the U.S. government’s decision to suspend its funded projects in Africa and other parts of the world.

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the Liberian Senate mandated its Committees on Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning, Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture to engage relevant ministries and agencies regarding the impact of the U.S. government’s withdrawal of USAID support to Liberia.

The United States, through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), has been a major contributor to Liberia’s malaria and HIV response and other development sectors for decades now.

The funding cut stems from U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, which suspended a significant portion of foreign aid pending a 90-day review. Liberia had previously secured $114.5 million through amendments to its Development Objective Agreement with the U.S., representing about 14% of its national budget.

The Liberia Health and Rights Journalist Network believes that the recent suspension of funding by the U.S. Government could reverse gains Liberia has made especially in the health sector if nothing is immediately done by the Country.

The Media group said the initial step taken by the Senate demonstrates the government’s commitment of arresting any trickle-down effects that have the propensity of endangering the country’s health and development needs of the Country as a result the U.S. Government’s decision.

“We see the announcement by the U.S. Government to suspend all USAID funding to Africa and other parts of the World as detrimental, and could create severe shortage of malaria and TB/HIV drugs including other health commodities in health facilities across the country, thereby putting millions of Liberians, particularly those on lifesaving medications at risk,” the media group said.

LHRJN wants policymakers and state actors in Liberia to see the U.S. government’s action as a wakeup call to prioritize addressing the issue of dependency syndrome, and take proactive actions in utilize the Country’s resources in a way that benefit the citizens.

The organization in a statement issued in Monrovia said, “We welcome the decision by the Senators, and we urge them to go beyond the recasting of the national budget and establish sustainable financial pathways that would help to address the aid dependency syndrome of Liberia. We must make use of the Country’s natural resources such as gold, diamond and others to address the age-old dependency syndrome. 

The groups said: “any nation ready for growth and development must invest primarily in health, education and agriculture. We as Liberians need to review the aid cut action by our oldest partner as a wake-up call for us to take actions most appropriate to develop the Country with or without foreign aid.”

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the development Arm of the United States Government, has been a significant contributor to Liberia’s development, supporting various sectors such as health, education, and economic growth. While specific annual funding amounts can vary, the U.S. has historically been one of Liberia’s largest bilateral donors.

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days, pending a review to determine their alignment with his policy goals. This suspension excludes only emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

This suspension has led to the termination or suspension of numerous U.S.-funded programs globally, affecting a wide array of initiatives, which could threaten the well-being of millions globally.

For Liberia, this suspension means that ongoing and planned development projects funded by USAID may face delays or halts, potentially affecting critical areas such as healthcare services, educational programs, and infrastructure development.

In 2024 alone, the USAID disbursed to Liberia $155,384,860 of the $161,762,907 by all agencies, totaling 96% of the total funding disbursed in 2024 and ranks Liberia 21 out of 43 regional countries.(Vermon Washington)

The top Category/Sector/Purpose (this is a three-level system to classify OECD/DAC’s purposes at the lowest level) for the funding is health and population, receiving $67 million, followed by education, governance, and agriculture at $23, $18, and $14 million respectively.