Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Condemn Life-Threatening Foreign Aid Reductions
We express our profound alarm at the devastating humanitarian crisis poised to unfold due to the decisions of the US and UK to drastically slash foreign aid spending. The human cost of these cuts cannot be overstated.
Photo Credit: UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran
CSJP Leadership Team Statement on Life-Threatening Foreign Aid Reductions
In keeping with our Chapter commitments to inclusion, resisting every form of violence, and addressing, healing, and being present to woundedness, the Congregational Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace expresses our profound alarm at the devastating humanitarian crisis poised to unfold due to the decisions of the Trump administration and UK Labour government to drastically slash foreign aid spending.
Our Congregation, founded on seeking peace through justice, respecting the dignity of all individuals, and valuing the gifts of creation, witnesses with grave concern how these funding cuts directly contradict fundamental moral principles. We firmly believe proper security is achieved by addressing the root causes of conflict and suffering—poverty, inequality, and lack of access to essential services—not by abandoning the world's most vulnerable populations.
The human cost of these cuts cannot be overstated. Across our Congregation in the United States and the United Kingdom, we have seen firsthand how USAID and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office have been lifelines for communities facing extreme hardship. These cuts will:
Condemn countless children to malnutrition and preventable deaths as food security programs collapse
Leave millions without access to clean water, leading to disease outbreaks and preventable deaths
Eliminate vital maternal healthcare, resulting in increased mortality for mothers and infants
Force the closure of schools, condemning another generation to cycles of poverty
Withdraw support from refugees and displaced people already living in desperate conditions
The abrupt freezing of USAID funding without planning or foresight betrays decades of trusted commitment to the common good. Communities that have relied on these programs now face immediate and catastrophic consequences. The abandonment of these obligations represents not merely a policy shift, but a profound moral failure.
We stand in solidarity with faith-based organizations witnessing this unfolding tragedy. The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has starkly warned these cuts will result in "more people dying and many more losing their livelihoods." We fully support the lawsuit brought by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops against the US government to unfreeze funds promised to programs such as Catholic Relief Services. These organizations fulfill Christ's mission to care for those most vulnerable, reaching communities that government aid cannot.
At this critical moment when global challenges—climate change, displacement, and food insecurity—already threaten millions worldwide, we must strengthen, not abandon, our support for those suffering most acutely. The timing of these cuts multiplies their devastating impact, creating a perfect storm of humanitarian crises.
In line with our Congregational commitments, we will:
Urgently advocate for the immediate restoration of aid budgets to previous levels
Collaborate with other organizations to document and publicize the human suffering resulting from these cuts
Continue supporting programs that promote justice, peace, and the integrity of creation
Stand with affected communities to amplify their voices in seeking justice
We call on all people of goodwill to join this vital advocacy, ensuring that the actions of the US and UK demonstrate genuine commitment to global solidarity, human dignity, and the preservation of life itself.
Congregation Leadership Team
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
March 12, 2025