Taken from USAID Cuts Hurt Free Press, Human Rights, and Children in Cambodia by Bhavia Wagner:
Upon taking office in January 2025, President Trump stopped all foreign aid. Within a couple of months, the administration decided to eliminate 83% of the United States funding for international aid programs, including 30 USAID programs in Cambodia totaling $260 million. This meant cuts to funding for health, education, child protection, independent media, civil society, human rights, and efforts to stop human trafficking.
The dramatic reduction of international aid also represents a loss of US influence abroad. By fostering goodwill through humanitarian aid, the USAID agency maintained diplomatic relationships, promoted political and economic models that supported US interests, and worked to reduce instability. China has already started to fill the void.
Independent Journalism Ended
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