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US budget cuts endanger health projects worldwide: alarm signal!
The University of Rostock regrets the end of US cooperation in the DAI project due to a new government directive.
US budget cuts endanger health projects worldwide: alarm signal!
The collaboration between the University of Rostock and the USA in the “German-American Institute (DAI)” project ended on February 27, 2025. The university announced this in an official announcement. What is particularly worrying is that the US State Department has stopped financial support for the project with immediate effect. There is no detailed justification for this decision, but this does not reduce concerns about future relations between Germany and the USA. The University of Rostock regrets the terminations and would like to continue to maintain German-American relations. Rector Elizabeth Prommer expressed her regret at the end of the project, which had developed positively and focused on important intercultural values.
The university plans to finance future collaborations with its own resources. Rector Prommer emphasizes the role of the University of Rostock as a cosmopolitan, pluralistic, free and democratic center of research, teaching and culture. This is particularly relevant in a geopolitical context in which the US is once again reassessing its international relations and financial commitments.
Growing tensions in international relations
On March 6, 2025, the US rejected the UN 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The US delegation declared a course correction on gender and climate ideology, worrying the international community. This agenda, which came into force in 2016, aims to combat poverty, hunger, health and gender equality. With this decision, the USA shows a growing rejection of global initiatives and the associated responsibilities.
On March 5, 2025, scientists warned of the dangers posed by the removal of USAID funding for neglected tropical disease programs. In this context, 20 countries are affected, seriously jeopardizing research and clinical trials. The physician Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf warned of the devastating impact on the treatment and prevention of diseases that already affect millions of people.
Humanitarian aid and health programs under pressure
On March 3, 2025, the United States cut funding for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNAIDS, ending funding for health programs. This affects millions of women and girls and threatens advances in HIV treatment, for which the United States previously provided two-thirds of international funding. The Directors of UNFPA and UNAIDS expressed concern about the consequences of these cuts, which could have a huge impact on the lives and health of the affected groups.
As early as February 21, 2025, Trump stopped the USAID humanitarian assistance programs, which operated in around 120 countries and amounted to around $40 billion annually. This has particularly serious implications for HIV treatment in Ethiopia, where 503,000 people rely on USAID funding. In countries such as Uganda and Kenya, employees report uncertainty and job losses in healthcare due to financial cuts.
The general stop in US funding has far-reaching consequences for medical care and health systems worldwide. Although UN organizations are trying to support affected projects, they lack sufficient funds. The USA has traditionally been the largest donor of international humanitarian aid, which makes the current withdrawal seem all the more dramatic.
Given these developments, the question remains as to how the University of Rostock and other institutions will deal with the challenges posed by the USA's shrinking international engagement in the future. The need to maintain German-American relations and find new ways of cooperation is more urgent than ever.