Humanitarian aid is stuck in warehouses and ports worldwide as a result of the Trump administration's disruption of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Despite claims that lifesaving assistance would continue, shipments of food, medicine, and critical supplies are delayed. The administration’s 90-day freeze on foreign aid, coupled with a stop-work order and the closure of USAID headquarters, has paralyzed aid distribution.
The freeze has left USAID workers on administrative leave, with only essential personnel working. USAID's global operations, which provide vital aid to over 100 countries, have been severely hindered. The process for obtaining humanitarian waivers is confusing, and nonprofit groups report that lifesaving programs have stalled. Some aid, such as HIV medication, is stuck in payment systems, preventing its distribution.
Additionally, shipping containers containing food and medical supplies, including soybeans for malnutrition relief, are diverted to warehouses or held at ports. Lawmakers from both parties, including Republicans, have criticized the administration for withholding aid, urging that stalled shipments be released immediately.
The halt in aid has forced many humanitarian organizations to scale back or suspend services entirely. Some groups are unable to access millions of dollars in federal payments, while critical supplies, like antibiotics, sit in warehouses or ports. Experts warn that halting essential medications could have dire health consequences, including drug resistance and the spread of diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.