The Liberian Senate has launched an inquiry into the implications of the recent funding suspension by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a move stemming from US President Donald Trump’s broader foreign aid freeze under the “America First” policy.
Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh and a group of senators have formally raised the issue, urging immediate deliberations on the potential repercussions for Liberia’s development agenda.
In a communication to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyomblee Kangar-Lawrence, the lawmakers stressed that the halt in USAID assistance could significantly impact key sectors, including health, education, and agriculture, which have long depended on US support.
The senators referenced Amendments 14 and 15 to the Development Objective Agreement (DOAG), signed in May 2020 under the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led administration. These amendments had secured an additional $114.5 million in funding, accounting for roughly 14 percent of Liberia’s national budget. The funds were earmarked to strengthen development efforts, foster economic growth, and enhance access to quality healthcare and education.
Before the funding freeze, USAID was instrumental in multiple development programs across Liberia, particularly in six of the country’s most populous counties: Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba. The agency played a critical role in reinforcing Liberia’s healthcare system, ensuring the availability of essential medications, including antiretroviral drugs for vulnerable populations such as women, children, and newborns. Additionally, USAID supported smallholder farmers in Nimba County and assisted thirty agribusiness startups in expanding food production and economic opportunities.
In the education sector, USAID funded school feeding programs in fifty-two schools across Bong and Montserrado counties, benefiting over 19,000 students daily. It also backed initiatives to advance girls’ education and improve instructional quality through the Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students in Liberia (TESTS) program. These interventions were critical in addressing Liberia’s longstanding educational deficiencies.
Senators warned that the suspension of aid could lead to severe disruptions, including shortages of essential medications, the termination of school feeding initiatives, and rising food insecurity. They urged the Senate to explore alternative funding mechanisms to mitigate the adverse effects of the aid freeze and sustain progress in the affected sectors.
To gain further clarity on the impact of the funding halt, the senators proposed that the Senate’s Committees on Ways, Means, and Finance, along with the Committee on Foreign Affairs, summon key government ministries, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Development Planning, Health and Social Welfare, Education, and Agriculture, for a detailed briefing. The lawmakers argued that such discussions would be vital in assessing the socio-economic ramifications of the aid suspension and formulating strategic measures to support the Executive Branch in addressing potential setbacks.
