The Trump administration’s State Department team brought its “America First” vision for the future of U.S. global health efforts to New York this week, and left little doubt as to who it wants — and doesn’t want — to have a seat at the table.
In lieu of working with NGOs that have implemented U.S. government global health and development projects for decades, the Trump administration’s new strategy — released last week — calls for bilateral agreements with governments and partnerships with private sector companies.
Jeremy Lewin, the State Department official in charge of foreign assistance, drove home the point in opening remarks — delivered without notes — at a United Nations General Assembly side event on the future of U.S. global health assistance on Monday.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
