Trump Cuts Gavi Funding, Risks Child Health Impact

The Trump administration plans to terminate U.S. funding for Gavi, an organization crucial for vaccinating children in developing countries, and significantly reduce malaria intervention efforts. This decision, part of a broader strategy to cut foreign aid aligning with Trump's 'America First' policy, could result in over 1 million child deaths from preventable diseases like measles and polio, according to Gavi's CEO, Dr. Sania Nishtar. The U.S., a major donor, had pledged $1.6 billion through 2030, but no termination notice has been officially received, prompting Gavi to engage with Congress for continued support. The cuts are part of a larger $76 billion reduction in foreign aid, affecting 5,341 awards, as outlined in a leaked USAID document. The potential withdrawal has sparked concerns among global health experts, with criticisms labeling it as short-sighted and detrimental to global health security.