Despite receiving suspension orders, some organizations have chosen to continue their work in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Medical Teams International’s spokeswoman mentioned in an email that they are continuing their operations in these countries, emphasizing their commitment to serving all people with worth and dignity as a Christian organization. While one portion of their program in Uganda received a waiver to continue operating, the organization is prepared for potential reimbursement challenges for other programs.
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, stated that life-sustaining emergency supplies are exempt from the stop order, but details about the waiver process remain unclear. The organization, which relies on less than 5% of international aid funding from USAID, plans to continue supporting projects in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia.
Some of these organizations have allies within the Trump Administration and the State Department, working to seek clarity on the fate of USAID and its funded projects through alternative channels. Meanwhile, there are voices urging the President to reconsider his decisions.
Despite the strong support from white evangelicals for Trump, a recent survey by LifeWay Research revealed that 70% of U.S. evangelicals believe in the moral obligation to welcome refugees. This sentiment is reflected in the significant donations received by World Relief in the aftermath of the funding pause, although the funds may not be sufficient to cover the promised rent for legal refugees invited to the U.S.
The halt in operations, funding suspensions, and criticisms from figures like Elon Musk and Stephen Miller have deeply disappointed Christians working with USAID, who view their efforts as a sacred calling. Anne Linn, who has dedicated her career to combatting malaria, expresses her commitment to alleviating suffering and serving as the hands and feet of God, despite facing job loss due to canceled contracts with initiatives like the President’s Malaria Initiative. Linn acknowledges the desire for self-sufficiency in health care among malaria-affected countries but emphasizes the shared goal of improving healthcare access for those in need.
She says, “But so much of their GDP goes to servicing debt. We have to give them a runway. It can’t just happen overnight.” In the meantime, in some of the countries with which she has worked, the rainy season is about to start; the mosquitoes will arrive and the bed nets won’t, because they’re stuck in a warehouse and the people contracted to deliver them also have a stop-work order. She fears for the pregnant mothers and the children under 5, whom malaria can kill. “Who can read the words of Jesus Christ and think this is OK?” she asks. “That is baffling to me. If we say that we are pro-life, we cannot be OK with this.” Contact us at letters@time.com.
