Hundreds of students and numerous higher education initiatives in South Asia are facing uncertainty after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended its funding. This move follows an executive order by US President Donald Trump last month, which imposed a 90-day freeze on all global development aid activities.
In South Asia, USAID-funded projects include scholarships—particularly for women—capacity-building programs for Pakistan’s higher education sector, and specialized initiatives such as improving agricultural efficiency and sustainable energy in Bangladesh, as well as disaster-resilient infrastructure partnerships in India. In Pakistan alone, 39 USAID-supported projects, valued at approximately $845 million, have been halted. These include critical healthcare programs and higher education initiatives.
Basic education programs, such as the Pakistan Reading Programme and the Sindh Basic Education Programme, have also been affected. Reconstruction of hundreds of schools, including many in conflict-affected areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, has been paused.
Professor Muhammad Ali, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Punjab in Lahore, highlighted the significant role USAID has played in funding research, scholarships, and infrastructure development through Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC). He expressed concerns over the disruption caused by the suspension, noting that the long-term impact will depend on whether the freeze is temporary or permanent.
A Stop Work Order, issued on January 24, halted USAID-funded projects in Pakistan, including those managed by the HEC. While the order initially specified a three-month freeze, academics fear the suspension could become permanent. Elon Musk, head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), suggested on February 3 that USAID might be shut down entirely, echoing Trump’s criticism of the agency as being run by “radical lunatics.”
A temporary injunction issued by a US federal judge on February 8 provided some relief, preventing the Trump administration from suspending pre-existing foreign aid projects or firing associated staff. However, uncertainty remains, particularly for ongoing initiatives like the USAID Merit and Need-Based Scholarship Programme in Pakistan, which has supported thousands of students since 2004, with a significant focus on empowering women.
Similar concerns have arisen in Myanmar, where the USAID Development and Inclusive Scholarship Programme (DISP) has been abruptly suspended. This $45 million initiative supported over 400 marginalized students studying in countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Students, including those in postgraduate and doctoral programs, now face an uncertain future.
Stakeholders across the region are urging the US government to recognize the critical role of USAID projects and work toward their immediate resumption. The suspension has not only disrupted education and research but also jeopardized the futures of countless students and collaborative efforts between universities in South Asia and the United States.