World Relief Strongly Urges Trump Administration to Reverse Terminations of Refugee Resettlement and Humanitarian Aid

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(BALTIMORE, MD – February 27, 2025) – World Relief expresses deep concern over the recent decisions by Secretary of State Rubio and acting administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to halt nearly 10,000 foreign assistance awards, impacting critical programs that provide life-saving support to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. These award terminations threaten food security, healthcare, and essential services in crisis-affected countries, exacerbating suffering in regions already facing extreme hardship.

These cuts also impact the Reception and Placement (R&P) program at the U.S. Department of State, which equips resettlement agencies with resources to provide initial resettlement support to newly arriving refugees for the first several months in the United States. This cut also impacts Afghans arriving on Special Immigrant Visas, who served bravely with the U.S. Military against the Taliban. 

“With the cancellation of World Relief and other Resettlement Agency agreements, this is effectively ending a 45 year, bi-partisan, refugee resettlement program with the stroke of a pen.” said Myal Greene, President and CEO of World Relief. “As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve ‘the least of these,’ and cutting off life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities is an abdication of that responsibility. The Church has long played a role in alleviating suffering, but we cannot do it alone. Our government must uphold its commitment to protecting human dignity and aiding those in greatest need.”

World Relief affirms the Trump administration’s authority and responsibility to review such funds and ensure that they align with American interests, but the sudden nature of stop-work orders, compounded now with thousands of terminations domestically and globally, have had devastating consequences.

“We remain dedicated to supporting those who have already been resettled, relying on the generosity of local churches and community partners. However, we are profoundly concerned that many individuals in urgent need of safety—including close family members of those already resettled—will now face indefinite delays in finding refuge,” said Aerlande Wontamo, Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs for World Relief.

World Relief received premature termination notices in all but one of the countries where we’ve been serving communities with grants through the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) – including in Sudan, where we had received permission to continue life-saving programming.  We also received termination notices for our R&P work, to serve recently arrived refugees.

“Millions of people rely on U.S.-funded humanitarian assistance for their survival, and these funding cuts are not just numbers—they represent children going hungry, mothers unable to access maternal healthcare, and entire communities left vulnerable to preventable diseases,” said Lanre Williams-Ayedun, Senior Vice President of International Programs at World Relief. “Without urgent action to restore these funds, countless lives will be at risk.”

World Relief has seen firsthand the devastating impact of these cuts on the ground. For example, since the outbreak of war in Sudan in 2023, the Sudanese people have endured unspeakable suffering that many donors, including the US government, have rallied to alleviate. When these programs are suddenly halted, the humanitarian needs they address do not pause—they intensify, deepening suffering and instability. Our collaboration with the U.S. government can no longer provide essential healthcare through clinics that serve more than 250,000 people impacted by on-going conflict in Darfur. The cuts also mean over 140,000 individuals will lose access to food security supports in the midst of famine. 

We urge Congress and the administration to act swiftly to reverse these terminations and ensure that life-saving humanitarian aid continues to reach those who need it most. World Relief calls on the administration to reinstate reception and placement funds for individuals seeking safe haven in the U.S., and to reinstate the refugee resettlement program.