U.S. Aid Cuts Disrupt Environmental Cleanup and Diplomatic Efforts in Vietnam
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A crucial environmental cleanup at a former U.S. military base in southern Vietnam came to an unexpected halt last month, suspending efforts to remove toxic dioxin contamination caused by the military’s use of Agent Orange.
Budget reductions imposed by the Trump administration on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also led to the suspension of several key initiatives, including the removal of unexploded ordnance, landmine clearance, rehabilitation programs for war survivors, and the development of a museum exhibit highlighting American efforts to address the lasting impact of the Vietnam War.
Beyond the immediate health risks posed to thousands of Vietnamese citizens, these funding cuts threaten to erode diplomatic progress with Vietnam, a nation whose strategic alliance has become increasingly vital as the U.S. seeks to counter China's expanding influence in the region. “This certainly doesn’t help,” said Chuck Searcy, a Vietnam War veteran who has spent decades working on humanitarian projects in the country. “It reinforces a troubling perception: that the United States is an unreliable partner. That’s not the message we should be sending.”
The funding freeze affecting the dioxin cleanup at Bien Hoa Air Base was lifted roughly a week after work was halted. However, uncertainty remains over the extent of restored funding and the logistics of disbursing it, particularly with USAID staff no longer overseeing operations. Tim Rieser, a senior adviser to Senator Peter Welch, noted that Welch, alongside over a dozen Democratic senators, has signed a letter urging the administration to ensure continued financial support for these critical programs.
