Media Wire Express Correspondent
Several transgender healthcare clinics in India have been forced to close after the U.S. government suspended funding for certain foreign aid programs.
The clinics, which provided vital medical and psychological support to the transgender community, lost their primary source of financial support following a decision by the Trump administration to pause USAID funding for 90 days while it reviews international assistance programs.
For many transgender individuals, these clinics were a safe space where they could receive hormone therapy guidance, HIV treatment, and mental health counseling without discrimination. Now, with doors shuttered and staff uncertain about their future, thousands of people who depended on these services are left without essential care.
“We are still getting calls from community members asking for help, but we have no way to assist them anymore,” said a former employee of the Mitr Clinic in Hyderabad.
The clinic closures are part of a larger wave of disruptions caused by the funding freeze. The U.S. State Department has launched a review to determine whether taxpayer dollars should continue to support programs related to LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and diversity initiatives. The move has already led to the suspension of aid projects across multiple countries, including health and empowerment programs in Africa and Asia.
The impact of the funding cut extends far beyond India. Organizations in countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Gambia are also struggling to maintain operations. In Gambia, for instance, an NGO assisting victims of human rights abuses has been forced to halt its programs due to the sudden loss of financial support.
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In India, the transgender community is now scrambling to find alternative sources of funding to reopen the clinics. Some life-saving services, such as providing antiretroviral drugs for HIV patients, have been temporarily allowed to continue under special waivers, but the future remains uncertain.
The decision has sparked global reactions, with activists and international aid organizations criticizing the sudden halt in funding. Meanwhile, some political figures, including Elon Musk, a senior advisor to the Trump administration, have defended the move, questioning whether U.S. taxpayer money should be used for such programs abroad.
As affected communities wait for clarity on whether aid will be restored, thousands of transgender individuals in India are left without crucial healthcare support. Activists and health professionals are calling for urgent action to find alternative funding and ensure that these essential services can resume.
