A high-ranking official at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has expressed grave concerns regarding the risk of preventable deaths stemming from the Trump administration’s suspension of foreign aid. Shortly after issuing a warning via email, he revealed that he had been placed on leave.
Nicholas Enrich, Acting Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, issued a cautionary seven-page memo highlighting that the agency’s disbandment could result in significant and avoidable loss of life. He emphasized that “political leadership” is obstructing the delivery of crucial humanitarian assistance on a global scale. This stands in stark contrast to previous assertions made by **Secretary of State Marco Rubio**, who claimed that aid efforts would persist despite President Trump’s austerity measures, which have been influenced by billionaire Elon Musk.
Enrich sent the warning email on Sunday and, just 20 minutes later, informed his staff that he had been placed on administrative leave. A source said this decision had been made on Wednesday before the memo was sent. There has been no comment yet from spokespeople for the State Department or the Department of Government Efficiency.
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In his memo, Enrich specifically mentioned that the frozen USAID programs are impacting efforts to manage a deadly Ebola outbreak in Uganda, which has already resulted in two deaths and ten infections. He stated, “This will no doubt result in preventable death, destabilization, and threats to national security on a massive scale.”
Background
Last week, the Trump administration revealed plans to cancel nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants, totaling around $60 billion. This effectively cuts off about 90% of USAID’s global operations, causing widespread concern over the future of humanitarian efforts.
In a separate memo, Enrich estimated that a year-long pause in essential aid could lead to an additional 71,000 to 166,000 deaths from malaria, a nearly 40% increase, as well as a rise in tuberculosis cases worldwide.
This situation follows President Trump’s order to freeze all foreign aid earlier this year while a review was conducted. Although Secretary Rubio provided a temporary waiver for critical assistance—such as medicines, food, and shelter—the ongoing turmoil continues to raise alarm among public health advocates and humanitarian workers.
