The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated its Committees on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, as well as Foreign Affairs, to engage key government ministries in finding solutions to the challenges posed by the recent suspension of U.S. foreign aid. The affected ministries include Foreign Affairs, Finance and Development Planning, Health and Social Welfare, Education, and Agriculture.
The decision follows a formal communication from five senators—Amara M. Konneh (Gbarpolu County), Edwin M. Snowe Jr. (Bomi County), Gbezhongar M. Findley (Grand Bassa County), Abraham Darius Dillon (Montserrado County), and Augustine Chea (Sinoe County). The lawmakers urged their colleagues to address the economic and social implications of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent policy to temporarily halt a significant portion of foreign assistance as part of his “America First” initiative. The policy has led to a pause in billions of dollars in global aid funding, affecting various developing nations, including Liberia.
Background of U.S. Foreign Aid to Liberia
The United States has long been one of Liberia’s most significant development partners, providing critical financial and technical assistance to support governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Over the years, U.S. foreign aid has played a pivotal role in Liberia’s post-war reconstruction and economic recovery.
Liberia and the U.S. formalized their development partnership through agreements such as Amendments 14 and 15 to the Development Objective (DAOG). Under these agreements, the U.S. committed an additional $114,488,125 in funding, accounting for approximately 14% of Liberia’s national budget. The funds were intended to strengthen key sectors, particularly public health, education, and agriculture.
However, the recent suspension of foreign aid under the Trump administration’s “America First” policy threatens to disrupt these essential programs. The senators expressed concern that the funding freeze could negatively impact healthcare services, including the provision of life-saving medications for children and individuals with severe health conditions. Similarly, the education sector, which relies heavily on donor funding to sustain school programs, could suffer setbacks.
The agriculture sector is also at risk, as the aid was instrumental in food security initiatives and job creation efforts for farmers and agribusinesses. With Liberia already facing high levels of food insecurity, the senators warned that the suspension of U.S. support could exacerbate hunger and unemployment.
Senate’s Next Steps
In response, the Senate committees will hold discussions with relevant ministries to assess the potential financial and operational gaps caused by the aid suspension. Lawmakers are expected to explore alternative funding sources and mitigation strategies to prevent disruptions to critical services.
The situation underscores Liberia’s economic vulnerability due to heavy dependence on foreign aid. The Senate’s intervention aims to ensure that the government takes proactive measures to address the fallout from the U.S. policy shift while seeking long-term strategies for sustainable national development.
