Why the Trump Regime’s Attack on Foreign Aid Hits Close to Home
What happened:
Yesterday, the Trump regime announced a sweeping overhaul of how the United States engages in international partnerships, including a sharp pullback in support for U.S. universities and nonprofits working abroad through USAID and UN-sponsored programs. According to a State Department spokesperson, the administration aims to “refocus resources on domestic priorities” and reduce what they call “unaccountable foreign spending.” Politico
Buried in the fine print? New restrictions that would directly impact funding for Kentucky universities and nonprofits involved in overseas work—from healthcare outreach and agricultural development to education access and student exchange.
Why it matters (especially in Kentucky):
At first glance, foreign aid might not feel like a kitchen table issue in Kentucky. But that’s only if we ignore how deeply connected our state is to the global fabric. Our universities—UK, UofL, EKU, WKU, and others—have long relied on federal grants from agencies like USAID to fund research, student exchange, and outreach partnerships in places like Honduras, Rwanda, and Bangladesh. These programs do more than build goodwill. They provide hands-on learning, public health expertise, and sometimes life-saving services.
Cutting these partnerships weakens Kentucky’s footprint in global innovation, limits educational opportunity, and pulls the rug out from students who depend on international programs for scholarships, work-study, or graduate research. It also slams the door shut on grassroots organizations like WaterStep, Christian Appalachian Project, and the Kentucky Refugee Ministries that work abroad and at home to uplift vulnerable communities.
This is an ideological shift driven by suspicion of global cooperation, disdain for academic independence, and an eagerness to control the narrative of who belongs and who doesn’t. That mindset doesn’t stop at borders. It seeps into the classroom, the courthouse, and the ballot box.
What we can do:
We can name what this is: an attempt to isolate us—intellectually, economically, and morally. We can also push back, starting here at home.
Start by contacting the offices of Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and asking them to defend Kentucky’s international research programs and oppose unilateral cuts to foreign aid partnerships. Reach out to your university’s global affairs or study abroad office to find out how these changes may affect local programs and how to support them.
And don’t forget to tell the story. If you or someone you know benefited from a university or nonprofit partnership abroad please share the story. Post it. Record it. Whether it was a public health internship in Central America, a humanitarian trip with a campus ministry, or a research grant that changed your future, those stories are a lifeline against isolation.
Because the real impact of this policy isn’t in Washington. It’s here on Kentucky campuses, in Kentucky classrooms, and in the lives of Kentuckians who believe that global connection makes us stronger, not weaker.
Learn More
USAID Global Engagement Programs
Overview of U.S. development priorities, including education, global health, and democracy promotionUniversity of Kentucky – International Center
Learn how Kentucky students and faculty engage globallyU.S. Global Leadership Coalition – Kentucky Impact
Explains how international affairs funding benefits Kentucky’s economy and securityFulbright Program
Prestigious U.S. government-funded international exchange for students and scholars
Take Action
Contact Your Senators
Urge them to protect international education and humanitarian partnershipsSupport Global Ties U.S.
A nonprofit that connects American communities to international exchange programsFollow the Alliance for International Exchange
Policy updates and action alerts for programs threatened by funding cuts