By Ramsey N Singbeh Jr
+231772641146 / 880147358
Before the US President, Donald J Trump announced the suspension of foreign aid from America to other countries around the world, Liberia stood as one of the beneficiaries receiving millions of dollars from the United States and one of the institutions through which this happened was the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In the recent years, especially from 2020 to 2024, Liberia benefited over four hundred million United States Dollars (US$489.9) from USAID, the amount was directed to health, education and economic growth of the country.
In November 2024, Liberia again signed an agreement of over one hundred and fourteen million United States Dollars (US$114.4) as support to Liberia from USAID.
All the support from USAID had made so much of impacts to the country but there are now gaps created by the suspension of foreign aid by the US and the closure of USAID.
There is also a big reason to ask the million dollars question which is who will fill the millions of dollars gaps in Liberia created by the closure of USAID as the US reviews its foreign policy?
As it stands, America’s foreign aid agency is expected to see its staff slashed from about 10,000 to fewer than 300 globally as the Trump administration makes major cuts to government spending, according to the BBC.
All but a handful of essential staff are already set to be placed on administrative leave on the night of Friday February 7, 2025, including thousands based abroad.
According to the BBC, an online notice says a plan is being prepared for return travel and the termination of non-essential contractors.
One union representing employees, which is involved in a legal challenge to the plan, told the BBC’s US partner CBS News that just 294 staff have been deemed essential.
Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said the country is going to continue to provide foreign aid but the programs must be the ones that the United States can defend.
He stated: “The United States is not walking away from foreign aid. It’s not. We’re going to continue to provide foreign aid and to be involved in programs, but it has to be programs that we can defend. It has to be programs that we can explain. It has to be programs that we can justify. Otherwise, we do endanger foreign aid.”
His team accuses USAID of wasting taxpayer’s money and failing to align with “America First” policy priorities.
In the midst of all this, Liberia at the moment stands not to receive the millions of dollars again and no one can clearly say or not if Liberia will be included in the US foreign aid after the review of the foreign aid policy.
Also, within the period under review, all the programs and job opportunities created for Liberians and other nationals who worked with the USAID in Liberia are either considered on hold or closed.
This is seriously going to hamper the Liberian Economy that is already struggling with Liberians experiencing hardship. therefore, at this juncture, who will fill the millions of dollars gaps in Liberia created by the closure of USAID as the US reviews its foreign policy?
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