Global Health Council’s Statement on Trump Admin’s Stop Work Order

January 25, 2025

Global Health Council Urges the Trump Administration to Reverse Stop Work Order, Highlighting Critical Lifesaving Impacts of Foreign Assistance Programs

Global Health Council expresses grave concern over the Trump Administration’s recently issued “stop work order,” which freezes all existing foreign assistance programming and pauses any new aid with very limited exceptions. This action follows on the President’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid mandating a review of U.S. foreign assistance programs. The stop work order goes beyond the Executive Order and, in doing so, risks lives and undermines America’s commitment to making our nation stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

American foreign assistance programs are not charity; they are strategic investments that directly advance U.S. security, economic interests, and global influence. Freezing these programs denies life saving interventions, such as clean water for infants, basic shelter for families displaced by war, and vital medications for children suffering from disease. The stop work order also interrupts key programs initiated by the first Trump Administration, including those focused on fostering recipient countries’ economic independence and the work of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

We recognize the value of the foreign assistance review, mandated by the Executive Order. However, this review can and should proceed without interrupting existing programs, especially those that millions of people depend on for survival. We strongly urge Secretary Rubio to reverse this order and resume the provision of all health and humanitarian aid which saves lives and strengthens America’s security and influence worldwide.

“America’s global leadership is defined by its ability to extend lifesaving interventions and support to those in need,” said Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, President and CEO, Global Health Council. “Pausing these programs leaves a vacuum that will not only harm vulnerable populations but will allow adversarial actors to fill the void, destabilizing regions, and undermining U.S. influence. All of this makes our nation less secure.”

Programs affected by this stop work order include essential global health initiatives like malaria prevention, maternal and child health, clean water and sanitation, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). For example, U.S. assistance in the Philippines plays a critical role in providing disaster relief and strengthening health systems, countering instability, and bolstering strategic alliances in the Pacific. Similarly, investments in Africa such as support for malaria prevention, clean water access, and maternal health programs in countries like Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, help stabilize fragile states while preventing mass migrations and reducing the risk of extremist activity. Interrupting these programs undermines U.S. efforts to address root causes of instability that threaten global security and America’s safety at home. 

The practical consequences of the stop work order are profound. Patients and communities that depend on lifesaving interventions will face disruptions to critical services, leading to preventable deaths, increased disease outbreaks, and prolonged recovery times for vulnerable populations. A halt to surveillance and monitoring programs will allow diseases to proliferate, epidemics to rebound, and bring pathogens to our doorstep, putting the lives of Americans at risk. Local economies will suffer as staff hired for U.S.-funded initiatives are dismissed, disrupting families and communities. Restarting programs later will be significantly more costly in terms of time, resources, and human lives.

The Global Health Council calls on policymakers to act swiftly to reverse this decision and safeguard the programs that save lives, promote stability, and reflect the very best of American values.

About the Global Health Council
The Global Health Council (GHC) is the leading membership organization supporting and connecting advocates, implementers, and policymakers to advance global health priorities. 

Global Health Council is issuing this statement in its capacity as the secretariat. This statement does not necessarily represent the views or imply the endorsement of the individual member organizations within GHC.


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