By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberian Senate has tasked its Committees on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture to engage relevant ministries and agencies regarding the implications of the U.S. government’s recent withdrawal from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) support to Liberia.
The decision follows a joint communication from Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Bassa, and Sinoe Counties Senators, who all emphasized the need for an urgent reassessment of Liberia’s budget, particularly for the next four years.
However, the Senate’s decision follows growing concerns among the citizenry, civil society, and political pundits about the potential ramifications of the U.S. withdrawal, which has historically provided vital assistance to the country since the end of its civil war in 2003.
Upon taking office in January of this year, US President Donald Trump announced the freezing of all external aid from the US government to other nations across the globe, with Liberia being no exception.
The funding cut stems from President Trump’s “America First” policy, which temporarily suspended a significant portion of foreign aid, including the USAID program, pending a 90-day review.
Liberia had previously secured US$114.5 million through amendments to its Development Objective Agreement with the U.S., as the country’s oldest ally, representing about 14% of its national budget.
This decision from the US government comes at a critical juncture for Liberia, a nation still recovering from the scars of civil conflict and grappling with economic instability, food insecurity, and governance challenges.
USAID has been instrumental in funding various sectors, including health, education, infrastructure, and governance, and its absence raises alarms about the future of these essential services.
But in response to the situation, Senators Amara Konneh, Augustine Chea, Edwin Snowe and Gbazhongar Findley, in their letter to the Senate, noted that the situation requires a thoughtful reassessment of the country’s budgeting and development financing strategies, coupled with priorities for the coming four years.
According to the Senators, last year, the US and Liberia formalized Amendments 14 and 15 to the Development Objective (DAOG) Agreement, initially established in May 2020 with the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led administration.
The Senators noted that the agreement entails an additional investment of US$114,488,125.00, which accounts for approximately 14 percent of Liberia’s national budget, it is significant, and as articulated by USAID, the primary aim of said off-budget funding is to enhance development initiatives in Liberia, particularly in health, education, and economic growth.
The Senators noted in their communication that the strategic support is designed to foster essential reforms and cultivate a healthy and educated workforce, thereby paving the way for sustainable development in the nation.
They maintained, “Before the implementation of the freeze, USAID was actively engaged in several vital programs in Liberia that assisted the government in meeting the needs of its people”
These programs were Education, Health, and Agriculture and have significantly impacted Liberia’s country’s growth, development and rebuilding process since the end of the country’s 14 years of civil unrest.
“So, Pro-Temp and Colleagues, the recent announcement regarding the United States suspension of foreign aid presents considerable challenges to our important initiatives focused on enhancing our nation’s public health, education, and agriculture sectors.
These initiatives are crucial for providing essential medications to children and individuals facing serious health conditions, sustaining our educational programs for students, and addressing the serious food insecurity and jobs for our people in the agriculture sector,” the letter narrated.
The Senator’s communications further noted, “The possibility of disruptions in hospital supplies, interruptions to school feeding programs, and insufficient support for essential services in the coming 90 days is a matter of concern.”
“As such, the Liberian Senate must ensure the prioritization of stable funding allocations to safeguard the continuity of these vital programs and mitigate any potential negative impacts on the government’s development agenda,” the communication added.
