Trump administration halts $38 million in foreign aid, ends Uzbek cotton project

On April 30, US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the termination of over $38 million in foreign aid programs, including a project supporting labor reform in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry. Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting led by President Donald Trump, Chavez-DeRemer said the move aligns with the administration’s ‘America First’ policy.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the administration had saved $250 million by cutting foreign aid programs it considered misaligned with national interests, describing them as part of an ‘America Last’ agenda. She credited the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, for identifying waste and fraud in several initiatives. Her mention of DOGE prompted laughter during the cabinet meeting, with Musk mocking the idea of funding projects for Uzbek cotton farmers as absurd.

The cancelled Uzbekistan project, launched in 2022 with $2 million in initial funding, aimed to improve labor conditions and prevent forced labor while helping the country meet international standards. Another $1 million was scheduled for 2025. Though Uzbekistan has made progress in labor reform, with forced labor reportedly eliminated and global boycotts lifted, the project’s cancellation raises concerns about sustained progress without international support.