Humanitarian workers are raising concerns following the cuts to U.S. foreign aid implemented by the Trump administration, which have adversely affected tuberculosis (TB) initiatives around the world. The U.S. has historically been the largest contributor to the global TB fight, but with aid now frozen, essential programs in nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ukraine have come to a standstill, endangering millions.

In the DRC, where TB patients are already facing medication shortages, local workers indicate that some individuals are succumbing due to inadequate treatment. Likewise, in Ukraine, a scheduled educational initiative about TB aimed at schoolchildren was halted just days before its debut due to funding cuts. These setbacks raise concerns about reversing the progress achieved in controlling TB, with increasing anxiety over the emergence of drug-resistant strains.

Global health experts have cautioned that the repercussions could be dire, predicting a 30% rise in TB cases in the coming years if the funding cuts are not lifted. The World Health Organization had previously acknowledged TB programs for saving millions of lives, but now fears that this achievement could be compromised, potentially triggering a global health crisis.