U.S. Slashes Myanmar Aid as State Department Absorbs USAID Programs

The Trump administration’s dismantling of U.S. foreign aid has dealt a severe blow to Myanmar. With the July 1 closure of USAID and transfer of all foreign assistance to the State Department, nearly $40 million in previously committed funding for Myanmar’s democracy, human rights, and independent media has been frozen. This includes $8 million for human rights, $30 million for democracy programs, and $1 million for independent media, leaving hundreds of exiled Burmese journalists and civil society groups without critical lifelines.
Broader cuts across humanitarian sectors have further deepened the crisis. Funding has been halted for 34 projects in the nation, including $36 million for agriculture, $30 million for education, and $22 million for humanitarian aid. Many non-profit organizations such as the Border Consortium, which feeds over 100,000 refugees, are also reliant on U.S. funding and are weeks away from running out of funds.
These cuts come amid a broader global retreat from aid, with major donors like the UK, Canada, and France also slashing budgets. Human Rights Myanmar warns that such a policy shift will likely have a devastating impact on the nation’s civil society.