U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal representing Washington's 7th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal representing Washington's 7th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Washington’s 7th district, has expressed concerns regarding actions taken by former President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk against USAID. In a series of tweets dated February 7, 2025, Rep. Jayapal highlighted the potential impacts of these actions on international relief efforts.
In her first tweet, Rep. Jayapal stated that "Trump and Elon are trying to dismantle USAID, an international relief and development agency that has saved millions of lives and helps cement America’s place as a world leader." She emphasized the importance of USAID's work globally.
Continuing her thread on February 7, 2025, she noted the suspension of clinical trials across various regions due to administrative freezes imposed by Trump. "Across Latin America, South Asia, and Africa, dozens of clinical trials have been suspended," wrote Rep. Jayapal. She added that this freeze affects research on life-saving drugs and medical devices.
Further illustrating the impact on local communities, Rep. Jayapal tweeted about Zambia's situation where essential treatments are now inaccessible due to funding cuts. On February 7, 2025, she shared that "In Zambia, USAID gives out rehydration salts to parents... Now these treatments can’t reach villages across Zambia because the companies who transport them have had their USAID funding cut off."
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