By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE United States Embassy said it is not abandoning its commitment to Bahamians, even as President Donald Trump’s policies on most US foreign aid impacts local organisations and contractors.

In January, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum directing federal agencies to temporarily pause the disbursement of grants, loans, and other financial assistance programmes to review their alignment with the administration’s policy objectives. This pause, effective January 28, 2025, excluded programmes like Medicare and Social Security but led to widespread confusion and disruptions across various sectors. Legal challenges ensued, with federal judges temporarily blocking the funding freeze, citing potential overreach of executive authority. Despite the OMB rescinding the initial memo, some agencies have continued to withhold funds, prompting ongoing legal disputes and uncertainty among recipients awaiting federal assistance.

The New York Times reported that soup kitchens in Sudan have shut down, while aid workers in Uganda noted about 40 newborns contract HIV daily due to halted treatment funding.

The Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL), which had partnered with the US Embassy for the Leveraging Education to Advance Democracy (LEAD) programme, has been impacted by the Trump administration’s policies. The initiative, aimed at mentoring young women aged 15 to 30 in political governance, was set to receive a $10,000 grant but was halted due to the executive order. 

CIWiL chairperson and former senator Robyn Lynes said the programme’s launch in January was cancelled after embassy officials notified her organisation on January 24.

“They told us that we would not be able to do anything that had the US Embassy logo, or anything of that nature included,” she told The Tribune. “Because, of course, they had gotten the executive order to cease and desist, and so we had to shut everything down.”

She added that US Embassy staff, including the Chargé d’Affaires, were disheartened by the order’s effect on the programme but had to comply with the directive.

With the grant on hold, CIWiL will seek alternative ways to continue the LEAD programme independently. Ms Lynes noted that since the programme was still in its early stages, the organisation would have an easier time re-strategising.

The Tribune understands other local organisations and contractors have also been affected, but representatives declined to comment.

US Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish said yesterday that the US government remains dedicated to supporting programmes that enhance safety, economic prosperity, and security in The Bahamas. 

“We want to assure our partners and stakeholders that we have not abandoned our priority for empowering our contacts with resources and training to help strengthen our two nations,” Mrs Furnish said in a statement. “Our commitment to these critical areas remains steadfast, and we will continue to support efforts that promote the safety, security, and leadership in The Bahamas and beyond.”