The USA has announced the suspension of USAID (United States Agency for International Development) services, which provide financial aid for international development programs. Reports indicate that this decision has affected India, leading to the closure of three clinics for transgender individuals that were previously funded by USAID. Due to this closure, around 5,000 people are now unable to access medical services.
These clinics were established in Hyderabad, Kalyan, and Pune, with the first one opening in Hyderabad in 2021. They provided hormone therapy awareness, medication, mental health support, HIV counseling, and legal assistance for transgender individuals. Reports suggest that the annual cost to maintain these services was around ₹30 lakh per person. However, with the withdrawal of USAID funds, these essential services have come to a halt.
Responding to these closures, Elon Musk and Republican Senator John Kennedy criticized the USAID program, questioning how American taxpayers' money was being used. USAID was initially established to support 120 countries with humanitarian aid and security funding. However, after Donald Trump took office for a second term, he prioritized reducing government expenditure. Under Elon Musk’s leadership, the DOGE initiative was formed to curb excessive spending, leading to the suspension of USAID services, layoffs of thousands of employees, and eventual closure plans. This decision has severely impacted countries that relied on USAID funding.
