The seat of the Catholic faith – the Vatican is reacting to the decision of US President Donald Trump to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID).
USAID, established in 1961, is the primary international humanitarian and development agency of the U.S. government. It has been a significant contributor to international development, providing aid to over 100 countries.
It focuses on disaster relief, economic development, and health initiatives. The agency’s programs have helped millions of people worldwide, from improving maternal and child health in Africa to supporting small businesses in Latin America.
Impact on Catholic Relief Efforts
Catholic-led aid programs, heavily reliant on USAID funding, now face an uncertain future. The Church’s Office for Migrants, the Environment, and Development has expressed concern about the potential impact on their operations.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, Head of the Vatican’s Development and Migrants Office, strongly criticized the move, saying, “A crackdown is a terrible way to administer affairs and much less to administer justice. And so, I’m very sorry that many people are being hurt and indeed terrorized by the measures. And I can only hope that the church in each place is able to help them, and if possible, even protect them.”
Shutting down USAID was a top priority for Trump in his first weeks back in office, with support from billionaire Elon Musk.
The former president has long dismissed the agency as a wasteful expenditure.
Critics argue that this move could undermine global humanitarian efforts and damage the U.S.’s reputation as a leader in international development.
Cardinal Czerny’s Call for Advance Notice
While acknowledging that governments have the right to review budgets, Cardinal Czerny stressed the importance of, at least, an advance notice, particularly for foreign aid programs.
“While every government is qualified to review its budget, in the case of foreign aid, it would be good to have some warning because it takes time to find other sources of funding or to find other ways of meeting the problems,” he argued.
Significant Impact on Catholic Relief Services
One of the largest beneficiaries of USAID funding is Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the humanitarian arm of the U.S. Catholic Church. The organization operates in more than 120 countries, providing crucial support for international development and emergency relief efforts.
With an estimated 50 to 60% of its budget funded by USAID, CRS is now bracing for significant financial challenges that could impact aid initiatives worldwide.
Smaller Catholic-led programs, such as Caritas (which played a significant relief role during the Nigerian-Biafran war of the 1960’s) and diocese-level relief efforts, also face the risk of major funding cuts, threatening their ability to continue serving vulnerable communities.
These programs have been instrumental in providing food, shelter, and healthcare to millions of people affected by poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
The global community is closely watching the repercussions of the Trump administration’s decision, with many hoping that cooler heads will prevail to ensure continued support for vulnerable populations worldwide.
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