For thousands of vulnerable people worldwide, crucial medical aid is now out of reach. A sudden freeze on foreign aid by President Donald Trump has left $238 million worth of health supplies stranded, some deteriorating in warehouses, others stuck in transit.
Millions At Risk
President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funding has left millions of dollars’ worth of life-saving medical supplies stranded, triggering a high-stakes legal battle.
On Tuesday, contractors revealed in a lawsuit that warehouses hold $150M in supplies, while shipments worth $88.5M remain stuck in transit, risking expiry, damage, or theft.
As a result, 566,000 people, including 215,000 children, face life-threatening consequences due to disruptions in HIV/AIDS, malaria, and reproductive health treatments.
Contractors Takes Legal Action
Before the freeze, Chemonics actively managed the Global Health Supply Chain Programme, securing $240M in commitments for medical supplies.
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Now, the company, alongside several NGOs and firms like DAI Global, Democracy International, and the Global Health Council, has taken legal action against the Trump administration, demanding an end to the aid suspension.
These groups argue that the government continues to withhold payments for completed work, leaving Chemonics chasing $103.6M, DAI struggling to collect $120M, and Democracy International fighting for $3.4M.
Since the case could reach the Supreme Court, the lawsuit directly challenges Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and USAID officials for overstepping their authority.
Plaintiffs assert that the freeze violates the Constitution, causing chaos in global aid efforts and forcing mass layoffs while worsening humanitarian crises.
Aid Still Blocked
Despite the administration’s claims that the freeze affects only new funding, plaintiffs argue that USAID has blocked nearly all payments, including funds approved before Trump took office.
Meanwhile, vulnerable communities await life-saving aid, as the court battle now determines their fate.
