Kabul, Afghanistan — In early 2025, a political shift in Washington triggered one of the most sweeping aid shutdowns in modern history. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), once a cornerstone of post-conflict stabilization in countries like Afghanistan, was dissolved and folded into the U.S. State Department. For contractors, NGOs, and aid workers on the ground, the consequences were immediate — and devastating.

(POC) — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which will work in close coordination with Turkish authorities on the front lines, as well as with our partners on the ground and agencies across the U.S. government. The DART is assessing the situation, identifying priority humanitarian needs, and working to provide search and rescue. We are in the process of deploying USAID Urban Search and Rescue teams from Fairfax and Los Angeles County Fire Departments. These two teams will be part of the USAID DART and will coordinate with Turkish authorities

(POC) — In Caloocan City, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff announced $5 million in additional COVID-19 funding, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to accelerate vaccine rollout in the Philippines. This assistance, funded through the American Rescue Plan, will support vaccine distribution for children and adults in line with the Philippine government’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts to intensify and strengthen the country’s wall of immunity.

"Thousands of people around the world want to help in Ukraine, but they don't have the skills, experience, or credentials to work with an international aid organization"

Two days after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, the World Health Organization issued a global request: The war-torn country needed doctors, nurses, and EMTs with experience in complex emergencies.

Within days, a 22-person group from Team Rubicon, an international disaster-response nonprofit based near Los Angeles International Airport, flew to Krakow, Poland.

The United States continues to increase its assistance to the Kingdom of Tonga in the wake of the recent Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruptions, ashfall, and tsunami.

As announced yesterday, the United States will provide, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an additional $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by this disaster. The new funding will supplement the $100,000 in immediate assistance announced by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Suva Tony Greubel soon after the initial eruptions.