Gutting USAID Will Have a Monumental Effect on Combating Climate Change
1 min read
Summary
On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order that stopped all funding to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the independent federal body that delivers humanitarian and economic development funding globally.
Subsequently, the agency’s website has been shut down, employees have been locked out of their email accounts, and the agency’s Washington office has been closed.
USAID funding is crucial in the battle against climate change, supporting low-income countries in developing renewable energy and preparing for worsening natural disasters.
The stop on funds will also impact countries’ abilities to meet their commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement.
The Trump administration, supported by Elon Musk, has publicly stated the move is not about getting rid of foreign aid, but the future of the agency remains uncertain.