Numerous organizations worldwide, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, have suddenly found themselves in an uncertain and difficult situation. Projects funded by American international aid have been halted, putting many who depended on them at risk of layoffs or, in the worst case, shutting down entirely, as self-financing is extremely difficult.

When it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most frequent and significant partner is certainly USAID. The organization did not respond to our inquiry about its cooperation with BiH organizations, instead forwarding it to its office in Washington.

Denis Dzidic, executive director of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in BiH (BIRN), stated:

“Fortunately, we have diversified sources of funding and a large number of donors, as we cover a broad range of topics such as human rights, transitional justice, corruption, and the rule of law. In that context, we have multiple donors. So, fortunately, these decisions and funding pauses have not affected us in a way that would require layoffs or drastic measures. However, they have impacted three projects we are implementing, which are funded through these sources. We have had to pause activities and redirect funds to cover salaries, which has been managed so far”.

Although BIRN is not directly at risk, Dzidic emphasized that American international aid is crucial for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we do not have a state that covers all the sectors a welfare state should—such as healthcare, mental health support, and security. Many of these activities are taken on by the NGO sector, using donor funds to provide services like safe houses, independent media, and journalist protection. All of these are now in jeopardy due to the suspension of such a major donor. The bigger question is whether this is only a temporary pause or a permanent redirection of funds that will not return. In this context, the damage could be immeasurable. Significant consequences could arise if certain services, established by NGOs to fill gaps in the system, disappear. These projects, which have been a remarkable contribution by American authorities, provide long-term protection for the most vulnerable groups and must survive. What is truly discouraging is that, weeks after these decisions, we have seen no response from the government in terms of supporting NGOs or the media. On the contrary, in some parts of the country, such as Republika Srpska, there are efforts to pass laws targeting NGOs, further stigmatizing independent media and organizations, and potentially shutting them down,” Dzidic explained.

Adis Maksic, professor of international relations and European studies at Burch University, is not surprised by these decisions made by Trump’s close associates. He believes that the ultimate scenario could be the complete shutdown of American international aid.

“This was expected—it was something he announced during his campaign. His political direction does not consider long-term principles or the soft power that has made America so influential worldwide over the past decades. Instead, it relies on economic tools and brute force. What USAID has done worldwide amounts to tens of billions of dollars in aid to various countries, ultimately buying America influence in those states. That is soft power. What is happening now is incredibly short-sighted. Under the pretext of saving taxpayers’ money, he is shrinking the government and planning to shut down various agencies, including USAID, which he accuses of being infiltrated by the so-called deep state. His policy plans for the next four years explicitly prioritize fighting the deep state. I believe this is harmful to America in the long run, despite any short-term financial savings or populist appeal to Trump’s voters. However, the bigger question is what will happen now, especially in regions like Africa, where this aid was existential for many people. These populations will now turn to alternative sponsors, with China likely to be the biggest beneficiary, as many African nations will open their doors to them,” Maksic stated.

Veteran journalist Rubina Cengic emphasized that USAID is crucial for all developing countries, particularly those with conflicts or where human rights have not reached an adequate level.

“USAID has been involved in supporting, financing, and co-financing various aspects of life in BiH. Some organizations rely entirely on USAID funds through grants, while others fund only part of their activities through it. USAID has supported the adoption of various laws by financing global experts to work with our authorities. Many bridges, roads, family support centers, media outlets, and human rights NGOs have been funded by USAID. The agency has stepped in whenever the government lacked funds, understanding, or willingness to support its citizens. Their slogan, ‘From the American people to the people of BiH,’ was not chosen at random—this has happened worldwide. Reports from the U.S. indicate that a 90-day review process is underway, but based on media reports and the fact that USAID websites have been shut down in BiH and elsewhere, there is a legitimate fear that, after three months, nothing positive will come of it. I stress that this is only a fear—no one knows for sure what will happen next. We must be extremely cautious with media reports, especially since Elon Musk, who has a direct interest in shutting down USAID, controls one major social media platform. Another fact is that Facebook has suspended fact-checking in the U.S., which are all warning signs that we need to be very careful when consuming media content. This is not a good period—not only for BiH but for many countries worldwide,” Cengic warned.

Meanwhile, many BiH organizations fear they will not survive the review process and may be forced to close within a few months.

The U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina recently stated that the country has invested around $2 billion in various projects in BiH since the end of the war in 1995.

According to Balkan Insight, U.S. international aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina last year amounted to nearly $40 million, while globally, American aid through various organizations is estimated at approximately $50 billion annually.