Trump’s cuts to International Aid could cause over 14 Million deaths by 2030, Study warns
A new study published by the renowned Lancet Medical Journal has revealed alarming consequences of former US President Donald Trump’s decision to cut international humanitarian aid, predicting it could result in more than 14 million deaths globally by 2030.
According to the research, an estimated 4.5 million of these deaths would be children under the age of five.
Davide Rasella, one of the study’s authors, stated that low- and middle-income countries are facing impacts equivalent to those of a major war.
“In these countries, the cuts have life-threatening consequences similar to a large-scale armed conflict,” Rasella told BBC.
In March 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that over 80% of projects run by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had been halted. The Trump administration justified the cuts, arguing that the use of these funds was not producing tangible results beneficial to the United States.
However, Rasella and his team argue that USAID programmes have been vital in protecting vulnerable populations. Their report highlights that between 2001 and 2021, USAID’s aid initiatives contributed to saving the lives of more than 90 million people in poor and middle-income countries worldwide.
BBC reported that Rasella warned halting USAID funding would reverse critical health gains made over the past two decades.
During his second term, President Trump maintained his “America First” doctrine, insisting that all overseas spending align with US interests, often prioritising domestic considerations over international humanitarian commitments.
The study underscores that if these funding cuts remain in place, the world’s poorest populations will bear a devastating toll over the next five years.
