International Rescue Committee: How US aid cuts impact public health (19 March 2025)

Summary

The US government’s decision to end programmes that treat and prevent communicable diseases will have serious consequences—not just for vulnerable communities that depend on this aid but also for public health in the US and beyond.

Cutting funding to global health programmes isn’t just about withdrawing aid. It increases the risk of infectious disease outbreaks that could impact everyone. Without prevention and treatment efforts, diseases are more likely to spread unchecked, mutate and become harder to control.

This creates a higher risk of future global health crises that could threaten lives worldwide. Investing in global health isn’t just humanitarian. It’s essential for protecting public health everywhere.