Donald Trump’s imminent return to power is sending tremors through the international development world, which is bracing for a radical shift in U.S. overseas priorities over a sweeping range of issues from abortion, climate, health, and LGTBQI rights to reform of the international financial system and likely cuts in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development and the United Nations.
The Trump campaign has provided scant details on its specific plans on the development front but if the past is prologue, it’s safe to bet on a slew of jarring early administration initiatives, starting with the restoration of the Mexico City Policy, or global gag rule; the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement; and the U.S. exit from a number of international agencies, including the U.N. Human Rights Council; defunding other agencies such as the U.N. Population Fund and UN Women, and even possibly withdrawing from the World Health Organization and World Bank.
Former Trump political appointees have underscored the need to align U.S. foreign aid with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives, including by countering Chinese influence and promoting free-market reforms, pro-life policies, and religious freedom.
Read more on what Trump’s second term would portend:
► How will a shifting US Congress shape foreign aid?
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
