The Trump administration's sweeping decision to halt funding for U.S.-backed water and sanitation projects has triggered widespread disruptions across the globe, leaving millions vulnerable to disease, food insecurity, and safety threats. The cuts, which took effect earlier this year, have led to the suspension of dozens of essential infrastructure projects in 16 countries, with no clear plans for resumption.

A Reuters investigation has uncovered that at least 21 major projects remain incomplete, including drinking water systems, sanitation facilities, and irrigation canals. Nations affected include Kenya, Nepal, Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where communities are grappling with the direct fallout of abandoned infrastructure.

In Kenya’s Taita Taveta County, construction on irrigation canals has halted, threatening both crops and public safety. Local farmers have been left without the resources to channel water efficiently, leading to a risk of flooding and reduced agricultural productivity. In the DRC, water kiosks and sanitation trenches lie unfinished, prompting safety hazards and increasing exposure to waterborne diseases. Several communities have reported thefts, violence, and even kidnappings linked to the scarcity of clean water.

In Nepal, over 100 planned drinking water systems were suspended mid-construction. In Mali, half-finished water towers stand idle, leaving materials like cement and metal pipes to deteriorate or be looted. Local leaders warn that these interruptions are not only reversing years of progress but also damaging trust in international cooperation.

Humanitarian experts say the consequences could be devastating. A report in The Lancet forecasts that an estimated 14 million additional deaths could occur by 2030 due to the combined effects of unsafe water, poor sanitation, and worsening famine risks. In many rural areas, women and girls are forced to walk long distances for water, often missing school or facing danger along the way. Health clinics and schools that once depended on these projects for clean water have been left stranded.

While the aid cuts have been nearly universal, a few exceptions exist. One major desalination project in Jordan, valued at \$6 billion, was revived after diplomatic appeals from King Abdullah. Despite this, most affected countries have not seen similar reprieves, and many halted projects remain in limbo.

The crisis abroad echoes a parallel controversy within the United States, where at least 20 states have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for cancelling FEMA’s BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) disaster mitigation grants. States like New York, Connecticut, and North Carolina argue that the funding freeze violates federal law and puts critical local infrastructure at risk. Affected domestic projects include dam removals, coastal defenses, and stormwater systems aimed at reducing the impact of future climate-related disasters.

As legal battles unfold and international communities await a policy reversal, the damage from the aid freeze continues to mount. Water systems meant to save lives are now posing new dangers, and hopes for long-term development in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions hang in the balance.