Global health chiefs urge EU to step up amid US funding cuts

Shortly after his January inauguration, U.S. President Donald Trump moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), scrapping over 80 percent of its programs and slashing funding for numerous initiatives including those focused on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria prevention.

The U.S. administration is also reviewing foreign aid with its “America First” policy, leaving many organizations that depend on federal financial support anxious about their future.

The trend extends beyond the U.S. In February, the U.K. announced it will cut international development spending and instead boost its defense budget, while the Netherlands also said it is cutting foreign aid by €2.4 billion. Germany and France rolled back foreign aid budgets last year amounting to another €3 billion cut.

In this uncertain political landscape, global health leaders want the EU to step up.

“As some countries of the world backtrack from development assistance, it would be very important for the EU to signal — to Africa in particular — that development is still a priority and that the EU is a reliable partner,” said Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

As Europe increases its defense expenditure, Nishtar said she recognizes security is an important priority. “But health security is a very important aspect of the security paradigm,” she added.