India’s First Transgender Clinics in Hyderabad Closed Due to the USAID Fund Freeze Under Donald Trump’s Administration
Trump implemented a 90-day suspension on all foreign aid to review and ensure that projects funded by US taxpayers aligned with the “America First” policy.
Image Source: Hindustan Times
After the Trump administration halted foreign aid funding under the US Agency for International Development (USAID), India’s first three transgender clinics in Hyderabad were forced to shut down last month, according to Reuters. The USAID’s stop-work order had disrupted services for nearly 5,000 people.
Former US President Donald Trump had imposed a 90-day suspension on all foreign aid to review projects funded by US taxpayers, ensuring they aligned with his “America First” policy.
The closed Mitr Clinics, as per Reuters, were primarily operated by transgender doctors, counselors, and other healthcare professionals.
Commenting on the situation, Elon Musk, co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), remarked, “That’s what American tax dollars were funding.”
Additional Mitr Clinics were also located in Maharashtra’s Kalyan and Pune. These clinics provided essential services, including guidance and medication for hormone therapy, mental health counseling, legal aid, and treatment for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, in addition to general medical care. Each clinic required an annual budget of up to ₹30 lakh and employed approximately eight staff members. According to a Reuters source, organisers are now seeking alternative public or private funding.
However, the clinic organisers have since secured a USAID waiver to continue certain life-saving services, including providing antiretroviral medication to HIV-infected individuals. A source noted that up to 10% of the clinic’s clients were HIV-positive.
Reflecting on the impact of the closures, a doctor associated with Mitr Clinics said, “We did some really good work. I am proud of what we achieved there.”
Team Profile
- Freelance Journalist
- Aryan Gulati is a dedicated media student based in Meerut with a wealth of experience in various newspapers and media houses. He has numerous published articles and specializes in political and crime news writing, demonstrating a strong commitment to impactful journalism.
Latest entries
English9 March 2025Hizbul Mujahideen Terrorist Arrested After 18 Years on the Run
News9 March 2025Man Critically Injured as ‘Chinese Manjha’ Cuts His Neck in Meerut
News8 March 2025‘A Living Corpse’: Mumbai Man’s Mother Writes Emotional Note After His Death, Blaming His Wife
News8 March 2025Hardeep Singh Puri Outlines the Timeline for The BJP’s New President
