February 27, 2025 (Washington, DC) – Malaria No More CEO Martin Edlund issued the following statement upon the U.S. Department of State’s termination of 90% of USAID contracts, including contracts for life-saving malaria programs:
Yesterday, the US government canceled contracts for ninety percent of USAID’s work, leaving critical bilateral malaria assistance on the cutting room floor. Despite publicly praising malaria programs and granting a waiver for life-saving malaria assistance, Secretary of State Rubio has signed off on these cancellations.
Halting the U.S. programs that prevent and treat malaria will lead to outbreaks and an exponential increase in deaths. The decisions made yesterday mean that even if the U.S. were to resume any life-saving malaria work, these programs could face disruptions for at least a year. New modeling shows that a year of disruptions would lead to nearly 15 million additional cases of malaria and 107,000 additional deaths.
U.S. malaria programs make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. We urge the Administration to restart these life-saving programs before outbreaks get out of hand.
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