USAID Closure May Cause 14 Million Deaths Over Five Years

Butch Meily, a prominent figure in the Philippines, has shared his personal experiences with the United States International Agency for Development (USAID), highlighting its significant impact on his home country. Meily, who is the president of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, IdeaSpace, and QBO Innovation, and the author of the memoir "From Manila to Wall Street: An Immigrant’s Journey with America’s First Black Tycoon," has witnessed firsthand the transformative work of USAID in the Philippines.

USAID, established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, has been instrumental in providing assistance to countries recovering from disasters, escaping poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. Over the past 64 years, USAID has supported over 100 countries, including the Philippines. However, last week, USAID officially ceased operations, raising concerns about the potential consequences of its elimination. A study published in the Lancet warned that the closure of USAID could lead to 14 million additional deaths over the next five years, describing the impact as similar to a global pandemic or a major armed conflict.

Meily, who immigrated to the United States in 1977 to pursue his ambitions and a master’s degree, had no idea of the extent of USAID's work in the Philippines until he returned in 2000. He recalls the significant contributions of USAID, including feeding hungry families, distributing drugs for infectious diseases, and enabling communities to combat poverty and develop economically. USAID's efforts have also helped establish national government agencies, educational institutions, and strengthen democratic institutions in the Philippines.

In recent years, USAID has faced criticism from prominent figures, including Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Trump declared that USAID spending was "totally unexplainable" and called for its closure, while Musk described the agency as "beyond repair" and "a criminal organization." However, Microsoft cofounder and philanthropist Bill Gates intervened to defend USAID, calling it "the best" of all development agencies. Gates accused Musk of "killing the world’s poorest children" due to his stance on USAID.

Despite the criticism, USAID's accomplishments in the Philippines are undeniable. From 1995 to 2013, USAID trained 28,000 former combatants with skills and tools to farm land and earn a living, helping to reintegrate them into society. USAID's support also led to a significant reduction in the maternal mortality rate in the Philippines, from 209 per 100,000 live births in 1993 to 114 per 100,000 live births in 2015. Additionally, USAID trained over 19,000 Filipino teachers, resulting in a quadrupling of the percentage of students meeting national benchmarks for reading fluency and comprehension.

Meily's personal experiences with USAID include collaborating on numerous disaster management projects and leading startup enablers in partnership with USAID. He recalls the agency's motto, "From the American People," and the goodwill it created between the United States and the Philippines. Despite the recent closure of USAID, Meily remains hopeful that the U.S. and the Philippines will maintain friendly relations and that the U.S. State Department will resume USAID's work.

In an address to Congress about foreign aid, President Kennedy emphasized the importance of aid in exerting influence for the maintenance of freedom and as a powerful source of strength for the United States. Meily's experiences and the impact of USAID in the Philippines serve as a testament to the significance of foreign aid and the need for continued support for development agencies like USAID.