Monrovia, Liberia – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) postponed or canceled projects totaling $51 million, which has had a significant negative impact on Liberia’s development agenda. These programs have affected vital areas including health, education, elections, and domestic tax mobilization. The sudden cutoff of financing raises grave questions regarding the nation’s public service delivery and economic stability.
Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan presented a sobering assessment of the effects of the budget cuts during his Monday, February 24, 2025, appearance before the Senate Committees on Health, Education, Agriculture, Finance, and Development Planning. He said that a US$17.9 million tax reform assistance program, a US$20 million school food program, and a US$23.4 million effort to boost the educational system are among the major programs affected.
President Donald Trump has been outspoken about his contempt for foreign programs that receive U.S. funding, and this assistance suspension is part of a larger change in U.S. foreign policy. Over the weekend, when speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), President Trump called out a $14 million USAID grant to Liberia for a social cohesion project and called it a “scam.”
In the past, President Trump called a separate $1.4 million expenditure meant to increase voter trust in Liberia a “fraud.” The effort known as Liberia Domestic Election Observation (LIDEO), which aims to improve public trust and electoral integrity, is currently in danger of being canceled.
In keeping with his general mistrust of foreign assistance, Trump humorously said, “We want to give them confidence in Liberia.”
According to the finance minister, initially, the government of Liberia was discussing a freeze, but now it seems they are talking about complete cancellations. He cautioned that attempts to increase access to high-quality education, advance healthcare, and strengthen Liberia’s tax collection systems would be severely hampered by the budget freeze. He maintained that thousands of Liberians, including government employees, teachers, and healthcare professionals, are at danger of losing their employment as a result of these projects being in limbo.
“Many people are losing their jobs as these USAID projects are being stopped. There is increasing uncertainty, although certain projects are still in place. Many people worry that their projects could be the next to go. We need to offer up prayers for a solution,” Minister Ngafuan stressed.
In order to lessen the negative consequences of USAID’s withdrawal, Senate committees have committed to investigating alternate funding sources in response to the situation. In order to avoid such disruptions, lawmakers are pursuing long-term, sustainable solutions and have expressed worries about the wider ramifications of these cuts. The committees have called for more talks with the Ministers of Health and Education in order to better understand the situation and develop a strategic response.
