The humanitarian branch of US National Association of Evangelicals has criticised Trump’s rollback of foreign aid, urging the government to reinstate funding grants lost to due executive order cuts.
Similar criticism has previously been levied by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Yet the NAE’s stance is poignant, as evangelical voters are a core demographic among Trump’s supporter base – largely due to his proclaimed stance on abortion.
World Relief, the humanitarian branch of the National Association of Evangelicals, has now urged the US government to “follow through on other past grant commitments and to resume continued funding for lifesaving humanitarian programmes”.
Until Trump’s executive order to cut back on USAID, World Relief had operated according to grants from the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. These went towards efforts in conflict-affected countries such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.
The organisation says the abrupt halting of these grants had forced them to rapidly halt operations in these countries, “though some lifesaving work was able to continue with support from churches, individuals and other private donors.”
However – they have now received some reimbursement for work in Sudan, which they describe as “an answer to many prayers.”
“We are thankful, and hopeful that additional already-committed funds will be forthcoming as well,” said Lanre Williams-Ayedun, Senior Vice President for International Programs at World Relief.
“While the funds received today for past work are received with gratitude, we continue to urge our government to commit to restoring funds for ongoing responses in these and other contexts facing humanitarian crises, and to restore the U.S. refugee resettlement programme” said Myal Greene, President & CEO of World Relief.
“As Christians motivated by our faith in Jesus, we believe these programs both advance American interests while also allowing us to come alongside local churches in ways consistent with their biblical values.”