A comprehensive history of America's commitment to global health and development
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) represents one of America's most enduring commitments to global humanitarian assistance. Since its founding, USAID has been at the forefront of combating poverty, disease, hunger, and instability worldwide.
President John F. Kennedy established USAID through executive order to consolidate U.S. foreign assistance programs. The agency's mission was to advance U.S. foreign policy interests by supporting economic growth, agriculture, trade, global health, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance.
USAID expanded its focus on child survival, maternal health, and infectious disease prevention. The agency played a crucial role in global vaccination campaigns that eradicated smallpox and dramatically reduced polio and measles deaths.
President George W. Bush announced the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. Implemented through USAID and other agencies, PEPFAR has saved over 26 million lives and prevented millions of HIV infections.
USAID strengthened disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and emergency response capabilities worldwide. These investments proved critical during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and later during the COVID-19 pandemic.
USAID programs reached their peak effectiveness, with an estimated 91 million deaths prevented over the past two decades. The agency employed over 10,000 staff members working in more than 100 countries, delivering food security, health services, democracy support, and disaster relief.
Over 99 USAID personnel and contractors have died while serving abroad since the agency's inception. The majority of these casualties occurred during the Vietnam War era, but development workers have continued to face dangers including assassinations, bombings, disease, and accidents in conflict zones and challenging environments. These fallen workers included development specialists, health officers, agricultural experts, and democracy advisors who gave their lives to advance human dignity and security around the world.
USAID's work directly benefits U.S. national security and economic interests. By addressing poverty, disease, and instability at their source, USAID helps prevent humanitarian crises, migration pressures, and security threats before they reach American shores. The agency's programs create trading partners, strengthen democratic allies, and demonstrate American values on the global stage. For less than 1% of the federal budget, USAID delivers extraordinary returns in both humanitarian impact and strategic advantage.
The January 2025 freeze on USAID funding threatens to unravel six decades of progress. With 103 lives lost every hour and projections of 2.4 million preventable deaths annually, the consequences of inaction are catastrophic. The programs that took generations to build can collapse in months - but with immediate action, they can be restored.
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