Potential Reduction in Aid May Impact the United States Domestically

Slamming the Brakes on Aid: The brash words of human rights advocate, Phil Robertson, echo an apocalyptic scene as he describes the sudden halt of a majority of US' foreign aid programs across the globe.

In the chilly month of January, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day halt on foreign aid, and just weeks later, decided to cancel 90% of contracts distributing such aid globally, including in Thailand. During an appearance on the podcast "Deeper Dive", Mr. Robertson slammed the proposed cutbacks, particularly on the Thai-Myanmar border where essential work in refugee camps ceased almost immediately.

After the funding cuts, groups like the International Rescue Committee were forced to shut down their hospitals treating refugee populations, which led to the unnecessary deaths of the elderly due to lack of access to medical care. On the other side of Myanmar, within the Rohingya refugee camps, the U.S. aid programs essentially ceased, further exacerbating their dire conditions.

Far from the devastating consequences on the ground, some might question why a high-income country like Thailand doesn't provide support for such programs. However, according to Mr. Robertson, there has been reluctance from the Thai government to do so, citing their own domestic poverty issues and a perceived burden by the refugees.

Despite this, the aid freeze directly affected the U.S.' response to the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar, with USAID personnel being let go as they arrived to provide assistance. The troubles extend beyond disaster relief, as education programs, health initiatives, and democracy-building efforts have all been thrown into peril with the funding losses.

To put the enormity of the loss in perspective, Myanmar faces a whopping $1.1 billion loss in projected aid under the terms of Trump's second term. Upon these cuts, Mr. Robertson argues that it is in America's best interest to remain engaged with the world and tackle global problems before they reach American shores. Failing to do so could lead to serious health threats, as strains of drug-resistant diseases could potentially make their way to the United States from border regions.

"Make America go at it alone" is not the path to greatness, instead it means "make America stand by itself." According to Mr. Robertson, America standing alone will be weaker, less connected, and more prone to be caught off guard by global crises that spring up at its borders. By severing ties with other communities, governments, and organizations around the world, America has effectively silenced the alarm system that once alerted the US to potential threats and allowed for timely intervention.

In the midst of the aid freeze, Phil Robertson expressed concerns that the termination of US foreign aid programs could potentially lead to the spread of drug-resistant diseases, posing serious health threats within the United States.
The International Rescue Committee, under financial strain due to the halt in aid, was compelled to close down hospitals catering to refugee populations, resulting in preventable deaths among the elderly due to lack of access to medical care.
Amidst the chaos, President Trump's ordered aid halt also impacted consultancy sectors, such as education programs, health initiatives, and policy-and-legislation efforts aimed at democracy-building, possibly compromising America's ability to engage and influence international affairs.
Aside from the dire consequences on the ground, the US' decision to withdraw aid has caused general-news outlets to question the overseas aid policies, particularly in high-income countries like Thailand that have not yet stepped forward to fill the void left by the US.
Science, health-and-wellness, and politics are entwined as Robertson emphasizes the importance of America's continued involvement in global affairs, arguing that America standing alone would weaken its position, reducing connectivity and leaving it vulnerable to being blindsided by crises that arise at its borders.