Liberia Faces Severe Resource Crunch with Winding Up of USAID

July 9, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

The ties between the two countries are stronger than most know. Liberia itself was established in the early 1800s to relocate freed slaves and free-born Black people from the United States. Despite this, the country is one of many around the world that is now facing a future without USAID.

Liberia enjoys close ties with the U.S. From its capital to the landscape, schools, churches, and public places bear a resemblance to the U.S.

Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, is named after former U.S. President James Monroe. Several features in the country hark back its proximity to the US, such as green American-style street signs, yellow school buses, etc. Liberia’s flag, at first glance, might be mistaken for the Star-Spangled Banner.

Support from the U.S. accounted for almost 2.6% of the gross national income, the highest percentage among all countries in the world, according to the Center for Global Development.

Liberia deputy finance minister Dehpue Y. Zuo, who is responsible for drafting the development budget, said he acknowledges the U.S.’ right to make its own decisions, but felt there “should have been a transition”.

USAID funding impacted nearly every sector of Liberian society, from education to healthcare to forest conservation. However, most of the U.S. funding went to Liberia’s health system, accounting for 48% of its budget.

It funded malaria control, maternal health programs, HIV/AIDS treatment, and community health programs. It financed hundreds of health projects run by aid groups.

Liberia received an average of USD 527.6 million in aid annually between 2014 and 2023, according to the finance ministry. This year, Liberia was supposed to receive USD 443 million, but the total estimated impact of the cuts is USD 290 million, essentially what hadn’t been disbursed yet.

USAID funded and built schools and health clinics, provided training for teachers and doctors, and gave scholarships for study in the U.S. It supported small-scale farmers and paid for school meals.