Jobless Aid Workers in Nepal Turn to Sex Work Amid USAID Cuts
WHO:
ABC News World - More than 280,000 aid workers worldwide lost their jobs due to funding cuts.
WHAT:
Fox News - An AP video about transgender aid workers in Nepal turning to sex work after USAID cuts sparked fierce conservative backlash over taxpayer funding priorities.
Phys.org - In January 2025, the Trump administration announced a 90-day freeze on all United States government foreign aid, which subsequently became a permanent shutdown of USAID in July 2025.
Phys.org - New research finds that the abrupt cessation of foreign aid disrupted health and humanitarian systems worldwide, with disproportionate impacts on women, girls, and other marginalized populations.
ABC News World - Aid workers in Nepal have turned to sex work to survive after losing their jobs.
Drudge Report - Aid workers are faced with the choice of engaging in sex work or facing starvation.
WHERE:
ABC News World - The situation is specifically affecting aid workers in Nepal.
WHY:
ABC News World - The cuts in funding were made by the United States, which slashed its foreign aid funding last year.
HOW:
Drudge Report - Aid workers are resorting to sex work as a means of survival after losing their jobs due to the funding cuts.
(UPDATED July 24, 2026 01:27 UTC)
A recent AP video aired on Fox News highlights the struggles of transgender aid workers in Nepal who have turned to sex work following cuts to USAID funding. This report has ignited a strong backlash from conservative groups, who are questioning the priorities of taxpayer funding. The situation underscores the complex challenges faced by marginalized communities in the wake of financial support reductions.
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(UPDATED July 23, 2026 21:20 UTC)
The Trump administration announced a 90-day freeze on all United States government foreign aid in January 2025, which ultimately led to a permanent shutdown of USAID by July 2025. New research reveals that this abrupt cessation of foreign aid significantly disrupted health and humanitarian systems globally, with particularly severe effects on women, girls, and other marginalized populations. The findings underscore the far-reaching consequences of the decision on vulnerable communities around the world.
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(UPDATED July 23, 2026 20:22 UTC)
More than 280,000 aid workers around the globe have lost their jobs due to significant funding cuts, particularly affecting those in Nepal. Many of these workers are now turning to sex work as a desperate means of survival, facing the grim choice between this and starvation. The cuts were primarily initiated by the United States, which reduced its foreign aid funding last year, leaving countless individuals in dire situations.