Amazon Watch unequivocally condemns the Trump administration’s reckless and destructive assault on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This blatant move, orchestrated with Elon Musk’s unaccountable and extra-constitutional “Department of Government Efficiency,” is an unprecedented attack on the fundamental separation of powers. These illegal actions, beginning with the dismantling of USAID, set a dangerous precedent that could soon target other critical federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education.
The freeze on U.S. foreign assistance, implemented by the Trump administration, is already causing severe harm to vulnerable communities in the Amazon. These communities and their courageous leaders – already under threat from criminal organizations and state-sanctioned repression – are now deprived of vital programs and support.
Key initiatives impacted include a $2.5 million Indigenous Defenders Justice Initiative in the Peruvian Amazon, which focused on territorial monitoring and capacity-building for Indigenous peoples. Similarly, direct emergency assistance for threatened Indigenous leaders in the Colombian Amazon has been effectively frozen. The abrupt halt to funding jeopardizes their safety and undermines critical human rights and environmental efforts.
USAID is not exempt from criticisms, and has contributed to harms against Amazonian communities in the past. And while Amazon Watch has a longstanding policy against accepting U.S. government funding, we have worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of Indigenous Peoples and push for USAID and the State Department to prioritize Indigenous rights and environmental protection. Through advocacy campaigns, high-level meetings, and policy engagement, we’ve encouraged vital support for grassroots defenders. Now, the Trump administration’s actions threaten to undo years of progress, leaving these communities exposed to escalating violence, illegal deforestation, and unchecked industrial extraction.
The Trump administration’s political agenda has no regard for the global importance of the Amazon rainforest or the lives of those who protect it. The administration’s actions also signal a broader attack on human rights and the environment, with long-term consequences for our planet’s climate and biodiversity.
We call on global leaders, donors, and advocates to join us in resisting these dangerous actions. As the Trump administration prioritizes corporate greed over human rights, Amazon Watch reaffirms its commitment to stand with the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon and protect the world’s most critical ecosystems. Our work will not waver in the face of these attacks, and we will continue to fill funding gaps, amplify voices, and organize against injustice.
