Canada Criticizes USAID Shutdown as ‘Dangerous Retreat’ from Global Aid
Canada Expresses Concern Over USAID Shutdown, Warns of Global Impact
The Canadian government has expressed deep concern about the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), citing its potential to severely disrupt global aid programs. Canadian officials warned of widespread repercussions for international charities and humanitarian efforts.
This week, the U.S. administration announced plans to pull all non-essential USAID employees from global operations by the end of Friday. The agency’s website now displays a shutdown notice, its social media platforms are inactive, and all funding has been frozen. Reports indicate that fewer than 300 of the agency’s thousands of employees will remain.
“Canada is deeply concerned by the U.S. administration’s decision to shut down USAID,” a spokesperson for International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said. “The loss of USAID’s leadership and resources represents a dangerous retreat that risks decades of progress in fighting inequality, starvation, pandemics, and authoritarianism.”
USAID, a critical partner in Canada’s foreign aid efforts, has collaborated on projects addressing water management in Peru, humanitarian relief in Gaza, and gender equality initiatives. The agency is a key player in global development, funding projects in over 120 countries to combat epidemics, provide education, and ensure clean water access.
Critics have raised alarms about the abrupt shutdown’s effects on health programs, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved millions of lives in Africa. Other initiatives, such as polio eradication and rapid responses to outbreaks like Ebola, are also at risk.
While U.S. officials, including acting USAID Director Marco Rubio, have assured continued foreign aid after program reviews, the international aid community is reeling. Lauren Ravon, executive director of Oxfam Canada, said, “The world was already facing record levels of humanitarian crises. Having the bottom fall out has huge implications.”
Canada has vowed to maintain its foreign aid commitments despite the absence of its U.S. counterpart. “Our government will not back down from its international commitments,” Hussen’s office stated, emphasizing the importance of collective action in addressing global challenges. However, aid organizations warn that filling the gap left by USAID will be an immense challenge.
