USAID Official Warns of “Preventable Deaths” Amid Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze

Washington: A senior U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) official has warned that the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid programs could lead to widespread preventable deaths, destabilization, and global security risks.

In a seven-page internal memo, Nicholas Enrich, USAID’s acting assistant administrator for global health, criticized the administration’s decision to freeze foreign aid, directly contradicting assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that humanitarian assistance would continue.

Within 30 minutes of issuing his memo to USAID staff, Enrich was placed on administrative leave, raising concerns about internal dissent within the agency.

Foreign Aid Freeze and Humanitarian Fallout

The Trump administration recently announced the cancellation of nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants and contracts, amounting to approximately $60 billion—a move that effectively halts 90% of USAID’s global operations.

Among the blocked programs, Enrich noted, were critical health initiatives, including efforts to combat a deadly Ebola outbreak in Uganda, which has already claimed lives and infected several individuals.

“This will no doubt result in preventable deaths, destabilization, and threats to national security on a massive scale,” Enrich wrote in the memo, which was dated February 28 and circulated among USAID’s global health division on Sunday afternoon.

His warning came in response to the ongoing restructuring of the federal government, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been overseeing deep budget cuts across multiple federal agencies.

Projected Global Health Consequences

According to another memo obtained by Reuters, Enrich estimated that a one-year pause in USAID’s lifesaving aid could lead to:

• 71,000 to 166,000 additional malaria deaths worldwide, a 40% surge in fatalities.
• A 28% to 32% rise in tuberculosis cases globally.
• Up to 28,000 cases of emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola due to stalled containment efforts.

Since Trump’s executive order freezing all foreign aid in January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to implement a temporary waiver for essential aid, including food, medicine, and emergency shelter. However, Enrich stated that internal bureaucratic obstacles had prevented funds from being disbursed.

Bureaucratic Gridlock and Internal Disputes

Despite the waiver, Enrich’s memo detailed how conflicting guidance from USAID and the State Department had paralyzed decision-making, making it impossible to approve payments for even the most critical programs.

Since February 14, Enrich reported that “zero lifesaving health activities” had been approved.

In one striking example, he noted that while USAID formally approved an Ebola response program in Uganda last month, partner organizations on the ground have been unable to access funding due to DOGE’s financial restrictions.

Political Fallout and Enrich’s Sudden Removal

Shortly after circulating his memo, Enrich sent another email to USAID staff, informing them that he had been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately.

A source familiar with the situation claimed that the decision to suspend Enrich had been made on Wednesday, prior to the release of his email, suggesting it was unrelated to his warning about USAID’s dismantling. However, the timing of his removal has fueled speculation about internal efforts to suppress dissent within the agency.

Both the State Department and DOGE declined to comment on Enrich’s suspension or the halted humanitarian programs. Enrich himself did not respond to media inquiries.

Global Humanitarian Crisis Looms

The Trump administration’s aggressive cost-cutting measures have thrown global humanitarian relief efforts into disarray, sparking concern among international aid organizations.

While Trump and Musk’s administration argue that restructuring USAID will improve efficiency, critics warn that the immediate consequences will be devastating for millions of vulnerable people worldwide.

With Ebola outbreaks, malaria surges, and tuberculosis cases projected to rise, the dismantling of USAID could become one of the biggest humanitarian crises in modern U.S. foreign policy history.