DEMOCRATIC Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has strongly condemned the Trump administration’s decision to abruptly freeze and terminate nearly all U.S. foreign aid to the Philippines, calling the move “a shortsighted mistake that hurts Filipinos, the United States-Philippines relationship, and American interests in the region.”
Schumer is urging the administration to immediately unfreeze and reinstate the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, which support crucial initiatives in food security, health, education, and disaster preparedness.
“The US-Philippines relationship is critically important, and the Filipino community in the US – and especially in New York – is a valued and vibrant community,” Schumer stated. “The bottom line is that the aid we provide to the Philippines is a win-win that helps both the people there and America’s best interests.”
In 2024 alone, USAID disbursed $180 million to the Philippines for economic development, health initiatives, education, and social services. This included $52.71 million for economic development, $42.79 million for health funding, $25.02 million for education and social services, $22.82 million for democracy and governance efforts, and $8.089 million for humanitarian assistance.
Among the impacted programs is a tuberculosis (TB) detection, prevention, and treatment initiative, which received over $20 million in 2024. The Philippines has one of the highest TB rates in the world, and Schumer warned that halting this funding would drastically worsen public health outcomes.
“The vacuum left by the United States drawing back on delivering much-needed and productive foreign aid to nations like the Philippines would be quickly filled by adversaries like China and Russia,” Schumer warned.
New York state Assemblymember Steven Raga echoed Schumer’s concerns, emphasizing the critical nature of USAID’s work.
“Slashing USAID funding to the Philippines is a detrimental move that harms families and individuals who rely on critical services for healthcare, disaster preparedness, and economic development,” Raga said.
Councilmember Julie Won also voiced strong opposition to the cuts, highlighting the impact on Filipino Americans with ties to family back home. “We cannot allow Trump to unilaterally withhold tens of millions in funding for tuberculosis and HIV programming, workforce development, and disaster relief,” Won stated.
Healthcare leaders and advocates further emphasized the devastating consequences of terminating USAID funding. “The devastating decision to cut USAID funding to the Philippines will have profound consequences for vulnerable communities,” said Potri Dirampaten Nur, a registered nurse and advocate from Mindanao.
Rachelle Ocampo, NYS President of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA NY), warned that the funding cuts jeopardize life-saving maternal and child healthcare services, disaster response efforts, and economic stability. “This isn’t just about numbers or handouts; it’s about actual human lives,” Ocampo stressed.
Lolita B. Compas, MA, RN, former president of the Philippine Nurses Association of New York, pointed out that USAID also plays a vital role in improving disaster resilience, especially for vulnerable populations. “These cuts don’t just represent numbers on a spreadsheet—they represent vital healthcare programs, disaster preparedness initiatives, and economic development projects,” Compas said.
Marlon Garzo Saria, President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc., added that USAID funding is critical to ensuring essential healthcare and humanitarian programs continue uninterrupted. “We respectfully urge the US government to consider resuming this crucial funding,” Saria said.
The Trump administration’s move to end USAID’s presence in the Philippines threatens to unravel years of collaborative progress, including partnerships that have improved public health outcomes, education access, and economic resilience. Schumer and other advocates are urging the administration to reverse course immediately and reinstate critical aid to the Philippines.
