USAID Cuts Disrupt Learning For Children With Special Needs

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - MARCH 14: A Braille embosser prints out worksheets for visually impaired students at the Inclusive Education Community Resource Center, part of the GABAY project impacted by the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid, at the Batangas City East Elementary School on March 14, 2025 in Manila, Philippines. The recent suspension of USAID funding by the Trump administration has resulted in the loss of at least $69.7 million (approximately PHP 4.06 billion) in aid programs across the Philippines, affecting 39 ongoing projects spanning environmental conservation, health initiatives, disaster response, and education, some of which were set to continue until 2029. Among the impacted projects is the GABAY program, a $3.4 million USAID-funded initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for learners with disabilities, which has been affected by the funding cuts, disrupting efforts to improve inclusive education. (Footage by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)