Ranking Member Shaheen Hosts Roundtable on the Trump Administration’s Dangerous Elimination of U.S. Global Health Programs
WASHINGTON—This week, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, convened democratic Senators for a roundtable discussion with experts on The Dangerous Consequences of Funding Cuts to U.S. Global Health Programs.
The Ranking Member said: “In less than two months, the Trump Administration has undone six decades of investments that made the United States more respected and influential than any other nation. The resulting chaos has left us weaker and more vulnerable. Like all of my colleagues, I have always supported reforming government and making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. But this administration has ignored U.S. laws enacted by Congress-cutting foreign assistance programs and USAID staff that are essential for our national security.”
Ranking Member Shaheen and her colleagues heard from panelists that the administration’s dismantling of USAID has been wholly inefficient, despite its claims. Dr. Atul Gawande, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, said: “They’ve done it in a way that has maximized loss of life and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.”
During the event, Ranking Member Shaheen asked the speakers how the Trump Administration’s cuts to U.S. global health programs have created opportunities for our adversaries to expand their influence in other countries. Dr. Dan Schwarz, Vice President of Management Sciences for Health, explained how the PRC is stepping up to fill the gaps left by the U.S. withdrawal of global health programs, including a new Chinese pediatric health program in Rwanda... He said, “the People’s Republic of China is filling that gap. The people in the communities that we serve have lost services and they are quick to look towards other options for their support that they need.”
The panelists rejected the administration's assertion that no lives have been lost due to the elimination of U.S. assistance, stating: “About the claim that no one has died—it's absolutely false.”
Congressional participants included:
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Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
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Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
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Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)
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Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
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Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
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Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ)
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Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
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Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Panelists included:
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Atul Gawande, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAID
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Nick Enrich, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAID
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Dr. Dan Schwarz, Vice President, Management Sciences for Health
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