Consequences of USAID Cuts: A Dilemma for Bangladesh's Most Vulnerable

After USAID funding was drastically cut due to the Trump administration's budget decisions, individuals like Kajol and families in Bangladesh face dire healthcare challenges amidst a rising tuberculosis crisis, while the Rohingya refugees suffer from the loss of essential aid.

When 17-year-old Kajol fell ill with tuberculosis earlier this year, it was USAID’s support that kept her and her family afloat. Now, with the Trump administration's drastic cuts to U.S. aid, vulnerable families like hers are again at risk of losing everything. Tuberculosis, a highly contagious and often deadly disease that predominantly affects impoverished populations in countries like Bangladesh, was previously being combated effectively with help from organizations funded by USAID.

Kajol, who is the sole provider for her family of three, works in a garment factory in Mohammadpur, a slum area in Dhaka. After contracting TB in January, her situation could have led to disaster. Fortunately, local aid worker Dipa Halder had been part of a program funded by USAID that ensured residents received free TB testing and treatment. However, in February, halting funds from the U.S. government abruptly ended the life-saving services.

Cuts in USAID support terminate numerous ongoing health initiatives, including the management of TB, which, if left untreated, could see patients developing drug-resistant strains of the disease. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that while free medication is available, the process of obtaining a proper diagnosis often places financial burden on those already in dire straits.

Dipa, a community worker who had been supporting people like Kajol, is also a casualty of these funding cuts. She now finds herself without a job, struggling to provide for her family, including elderly parents and a sister. The public health implications are alarming; a performance report from the U.S. indicated that in 2023, over a quarter of a million new TB cases were identified and treated due to USAID.

As Bangladesh's government grapples with the aftermath of political upheaval and an unstable economy, it has seen its foreign assistance shrink from $500 million in 2024 to an estimated $71 million in 2025. The abrupt cessation of aid programs impacts the lives of many, with the NGO sector in Bangladesh employing around 500,000 people, a number that could dwindle rapidly due to curtailed funding.

Beyond healthcare, the Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox's Bazar sheds light on the broader human toll of dwindling aid. The U.S. has historically contributed nearly half of all assistance to these refugees, who fled violence in Myanmar. Local NGOs report critical shortages of basic supplies, including water and hygiene products, with outbreaks of diseases like cholera exacerbating the already precarious situation in the camps.

Actions taken by aid organizations, such as UNICEF, signal desperation as they struggle with significant funding shortfalls. The depletion of food rations administered through the World Food Programme further highlights an emergency on the horizon, kindling fears of widespread malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions.

As Bangladesh navigates this turbulent period, officials express hope for strategies to offset the effects of aid reductions. However, for families reliant on USAID support, the prospect of survival without international assistance looms ever more uncertain. The fallout from these cuts not only puts lives at risk but also threatens stability in a region already beset by challenges.