Reuters: Dismantling USAID halts America’s global crisis response efforts

The United States’ renowned international disaster response program is now unable to deploy in the wake of a major crisis due to the Trump administration’s dismantling of the US foreign aid agency.

The Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), known for their rapid mobilization within 24 to 48 hours, have played a critical role in major global emergencies, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, and conflicts in Iraq and Syria. However, following a funding freeze for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), DART teams currently operating in Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine can no longer function normally, according to seven USAID employees who spoke anonymously.

Multiple sources told Reuters that some DART personnel have been ordered to return to Washington, while others have lost access to official communication systems, severely hampering operations, per Caliber.Az.

With USAID headquarters in Washington currently off-limits to staff, new DART teams cannot be formed, sources said.

“Our tools have been dismantled,” one USAID employee stated, emphasizing the dire consequences of the agency’s restructuring.

The Trump administration has announced plans to merge USAID into the State Department and significantly reduce its staff. The future of the DART system remains uncertain, with no clear guidance on whether it will be restored or replaced. The State Department has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation.

Marcia Wong, former deputy head of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), which oversees DART operations, warned that the shutdown is crippling America’s ability to respond to global crises.

“The DARTs are a highly visible and effective projection of the U.S. interest in saving lives and helping people out of crisis,” Wong said.

USAID staff who participate in DARTs operate under the principle that "minutes matter" in disaster response. They keep emergency “go-bags” ready for immediate deployment and rely on military transport when commercial flights are not an option. Over the years, DART members have used helicopters in Türkiye, canoes in South Sudan, donkeys in Nepal, and camels in Ethiopia to deliver aid to remote communities.

DART teams also collaborate with experts from various US agencies, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the Fukushima crisis and federal health officials during the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak.

“DART teams have put their lives on the line from Afghanistan to DR Congo to Somalia,” a senior Western aid official said. “They have prevented pandemics, stopped famines, and saved countless lives. Now, no one knows who will take the lead when the next global crisis comes.”

By Tamilla Hasanova