Viewpoint: What’s the impact of the U.S. abandoning support for global health? Adam Wexler, Jennifer Kates, Stephanie Oum | July 20, 2026

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/07/20/viewpoint-whats-the-impact-of-the-u-s-abandoning-support-for-global-health/ Worsening fiscal constraints and changing policy priorities have resulted in significant funding cuts to global health and development programs. While these reductions predated the cuts and disruptions made by the U.S. government last year, they were exacerbated by U.S. actions. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently reported that international aid fell significantly in 2025, driven primarily by the U.S., and that further declines are likely on the horizon. The health sector has not been immune to these pressures. The U.S. government and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), the top two donors1 to global health in low- and middle-income countries, each took actions to reduce funding to countries starting last year and plan to further reduce funding going forward. Under the Trump administration, the U.S., as part of its new America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS) “MOU” agreements with countries, plans to reduce funding by billions over the next few years. The Global Fund, due to reduced contributions from the U.S. and other donors, is also reducing funding in the same set of countries. Together, the U.S. and Global Fund reductions serve as a “one-two punch” to countries, who will be faced with significantly fewer resources in the coming years.