Trump Cuts USAID Funding in Colombia, Freezing $70 Million for Environmental Projects
Funding worth $70 million for environmental and conservation projects in Colombia has been frozen after US President Donald Trump moved to overhaul the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Colombia’s Environment Minister, Susana Muhamad, confirmed the freeze on Thursday, highlighting the significant impact on the country’s Amazon region.
Major Impact on Amazon Conservation
According to Minister Muhamad, the freeze will hit conservation efforts hardest in the Amazon, a region already struggling with severe deforestation. Colombia loses hundreds of square kilometres of forest every year, mostly in this vital rainforest area. A large portion of the frozen funds was allocated to USAID’s Amazonia Mia programme, aimed at protecting the Amazon’s biodiversity and combating deforestation.
USAID Restructuring and Reduced Workforce
The funding halt comes after President Trump criticised USAID as “incompetent and corrupt” on Tuesday. He tasked billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk with scaling down the agency. Before the restructuring, USAID employed more than 10,000 staff globally. Following Trump’s orders, all but around 600 were either placed on leave or fired.
The $70 million in frozen funding was part of USAID’s broader support for Colombia. The initial proposed USAID budget for Colombia in 2025 was $413 million. This budget focused on peace-building, economic and social development, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.
Long-Term Impact on Colombia’s Development
The freeze will disrupt a wide range of ongoing projects in Colombia. As of March 2024, USAID was funding 82 programmes in Colombia with planned spending of $1.69 billion. The timeline for these programmes and how they will be affected by the freeze remains unclear.
From 2018 to March 2024, US bilateral cooperation with Colombia—including military aid—totalled $3.23 billion. USAID’s support has been instrumental in helping Colombia transition away from illicit economies while promoting peace and sustainable development.
The freeze puts these efforts at risk, particularly in the context of the country’s fragile ecosystems and ongoing peace-building initiatives.
with inputs from Reuters
