USAID staff who still have access to their email accounts received a notice on Monday evening from Ken Jackson, the agency’s assistant to the administrator for management and resources, saying that the agency “would likely undergo a reorganization” and be integrated into the State Department. “As we evaluate USAID and ensure it is in alignment with an America First agenda, the President Trump Administration, and the efforts of the State Department, we will focus on ensuring every agency dollar is delivering targeted and results-driven aid,” the email read.
In countries like Zambia, Nigeria, Haiti, and Mozambique, medical equipment ranging from antiretroviral drugs for treating HIV to pre-exposure prophylaxis and condoms that can prevent transmission of the disease are currently sitting in limbo, according to the same USAID worker who warned of a drastic uptick in the number of children living with HIV. The aid is unable to reach its destinations because the USAID workers tasked with logistics have been placed on administrative leave.
“When a baby is born, you do an early infant diagnostic test, and if it comes back positive, you can blitz them with retrovirals, but you can’t do that if you don’t have retrovirals,” the same USAID worker says. “It’s an absolute disaster.”
In Haiti, an aid worker confirmed that HIV/AIDS medication from USAID remains inaccessible. “We cannot touch the medication,” they say. “Everything is on hold.” The worker added that nobody from USAID had answered their phone calls for days.
“The Trump administration is playing with tens of millions of people’s lives, and Haiti is just one consequential example of that in our hemisphere,” says Asia Russell, the executive director of the international HIV advocacy group Health GAP.
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While PEPFAR is the most well-known HIV/AIDS program implemented by USAID, the agency has a number of additional projects devoted to the issue. One current USAID worker whose research focuses on prophylactic devices primarily for women in sub-Saharan Africa says that their work has been interrupted, too. They say members of their team were abruptly cut off from their work emails this afternoon. “We hadn’t yet applied for a humanitarian waiver,” they say. “We don’t even have a way of contacting IT.”
Democratic lawmakers and dozens of USAID employees protested in front of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC on Monday after they were denied access to USAID’s offices. “This illegal, unconstitutional interference with congressional power is threatening lives all over the world,” said Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin.
A current USAID employee shared an email with WIRED they received from the agency on Monday night, informing them that USAID buildings in Washington will remain closed tomorrow. “We will continue to provide further updates as they become available,” the email reads. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
