USG Policy Shifts
Amid significant shifts in U.S. government policy affecting global health, the Alliance is working to meet this moment by curating timely policy updates and resources, advancing programming that supports innovation and sustainable financing, convening our cross-sector network through targeted roundtables to understand the implications, and fostering collaboration to help members navigate uncertainty and shape the future of global health.
The US Government’s Continued Restructuring
November 19, 2025
Eleven months into the new administration, the global health sector continues to face significant disruption. The heartbreaking toll of USAID’s shutdown is becoming apparent, and disruption to foreign-aid channels and the continuation of anti-science legislative efforts are forcing the sector to reassess its operations and examine core public health vulnerabilities. Find resources and recent headlines in this November USG Update.
Layoffs, Legal Battles, and Vaccine Confusion Undermine US Health Leadership
OCTOBER 16, 2025
The ongoing reshaping of US health and aid institutions under the current administration continues to reverberate across global health. As federal agencies hollow out, Democratic governors are forming new alliances and stopgap efforts to protect public health. See resources and recent headlines in this October USG Update.
As Fiscal Year Deadline Looms, U.S. Faces Foreign Aid Fight and Public Health Upheaval
SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
With the fiscal year set to close in just weeks, the U.S. is confronting two escalating crises: a battle over billions in foreign aid and medical research funding, and upheaval at the nation’s top public health agency and vaccine policy. Together, they mark the latest turn in an eight-month dismantling of U.S. global health and public health leadership.
From Safety Nets to Budget Cuts: The Ongoing Shift in US Priorities
JULY 23, 2025
Legislative actions continue the shift away from domestic health equity and US leadership in global health, threatening essential services and pandemic preparedness in vulnerable communities both at home and abroad. Review our updated list of resources and sources in this July USG update.
Resilience and Response: Six Months of Policy Shifts in Global Health | June USG Update
JUNE 20, 2025
It’s been six months since dramatic shifts in U.S. policy began disrupting the global health sector. We recognize our advocacy members for their courageous and essential work educating policymakers and stakeholders about the far-reaching impact of these actions, with a brief June recap and updated resources and sources.
Alliance 2025 Annual Meeting | Meeting the Moment, Moving Forward Together
JUNE 19, 2025
The Bay Area Global Health Alliance’s 2025 Annual Meeting on June 5 brought together a diverse community of leaders, innovators, funders, and implementers at a pivotal time for global health. Held under Chatham House Rules to encourage open, candid dialogue, the convening reflected the urgency and complexity of a sector facing major funding cuts. Despite the challenges, there was a strong call to action across the community — to do bold things and reimagine the future, acknowledging the millions of lives depending on it. The meeting featured panels focused on AI, innovative financing, and U.S. government policy.
Alliance NGO Roundtables: Grief to Grit, What We Heard in a Time of Crisis and Reinvention
MAY 16, 2025
Over the course of three private Chatham House Rules roundtables, the Bay Area Global Health Alliance brought together 47 leaders from 32 member organizations across geographies and disciplines. The goal was clear: take stock of this unprecedented moment, gain strength from sharing their collective experience, and begin to shape what comes next.
USG Recap: President’s Budget Request, Good News Gates, Scientific Research, Tracking Impact, and More
MAY 16, 2025
Since our USG April update, disruptions and cuts to global health continue. Our recap is brief this month, with updates on the President’s Budget Request, Gates Foundation to Double Spending, USAID and State Department Reorganization, Scientific Research: NIH and NSF, and WHO, WFP and UNAIDS.
USG Update: Sweeping Cuts at HHS and USAID Threaten Public Health and Global Aid Initiatives
APRIL 11, 2025
On April 1, around 10,000 U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) employees from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were put on leave, leading to a 25% reduction in the HHS workforce. These cuts jeopardize essential public health services, including disease monitoring and medical research, and are accompanied by a 35% reduction in contracted funding, raising legal and operational concerns.
Most USAID Projects Now Canceled, Supreme Court Blocks Foreign Aid Freeze, NIH Cuts Halted
MARCH 12, 2025
On March 5, the Supreme Court blocked a $2 billion foreign aid freeze, reinforcing prior rulings and prompting the swift release of funds to aid contractors. A federal judge later ruled that the freeze violated Congress’s spending authority and ordered expedited disbursement of humanitarian assistance. These decisions come amid widespread aid project cancellations at USAID and ongoing legal challenges to NIH research funding cuts—threatening progress in global health, vaccine development, and public health research.
Global Aid at a Crossroads: Legal Battles Intensify Against Trump’s Foreign Aid Policies
FEBRUARY 14, 2025
Millions globally face the loss of essential humanitarian aid. Implementers of USAID’s global programs are at the brink of collapse, triggering mass layoffs and furloughs. Communications and operations at the HHS and CDC remain restricted. And sharp cuts to U.S. biomedical research could be at stake as a result of the National Institutes of Health (“NIH,” the world’s largest biomedical research institution) cap on indirect costs.
Freeze on Foreign Aid, USAID Dismantling, and Policy Shifts Threaten Health Programs Worldwide
Foreign aid has been frozen, programs and services around the world have been halted, and USAID was basically dismantled over the weekend—with the latest action of Secretary of State Marco Rubio now also serving as Acting Director of USAID. In our dedication to supporting our members, we are actively working to understand this evolving landscape and are working to provide useful information and resources to our community, within the constraints of a rapidly changing situation.
Navigating Trump’s Executive Actions and Their Impact on Global Health
JANUARY 23, 2025
In light of recent executive actions by President Donald Trump, our community faces new challenges and uncertainties that could significantly impact both global health initiatives and domestic health policies. These actions include the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a pause in foreign assistance, a halt to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) communications, and restrictions on National Institutes of Health (NIH) operations, among others. The full ramifications of these actions are still unfolding, with numerous legal interpretations and challenges anticipated. In our dedication to supporting our members, we have begun to gather initial insights and are actively working to understand this evolving landscape.
U.S. Election’s Potential Impact on Global Health
NOVEMBER 15, 2024
The global health community is closely watching the anticipated policy shifts as President-Elect Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda takes shape, as reported by Health Policy Watch, STAT, Devex, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and various other outlets. While the Bay Area Global Health Alliance remains a neutral convener, we recognize that these potential changes could significantly impact our members, as well as our collective mission to advance global health equity and innovation through cross-sector collaboration and shared knowledge.