Most of us have heard the 1500s-era English proverb that a person is "penny wise and pound foolish." Although it can be interpreted differently, in general it implies that one is focused on short-term cost and misses a larger long-term expense. One can become enamored of short-term gains and miss or disregard long-term consequences.

Another throwback adage from childhood is the ever-present parental reminder that all actions have consequences, and those consequences are not necessarily proportional to the action.

Taken together, these admonitions are enduring reminders that the stated or intended purpose of all actions, policy decisions, and laws may ultimately cause events that were never expected, discussed, or anticipated.

It is not unusual that some extended period may follow the enactment of a law or policy before their consequences are apparent. So much time may follow that we fail to connect the cause with the unanticipated result. For example, early in President Donald Trump's second term, he unilaterally drastically cut USAID funding, although it amounted to only about 0.5 percent of the federal budget. Presumably, the cuts were to save taxpayers money.

Supporters of the cuts would argue that U.S. interests were not being met, our foreign aid should be more focused, waste and fraud were eliminated, and savings could be directed to domestic needs. The immediate short-term effect was to terminate 83 percent of USAID programs with the elimination of thousands of USAID positions.

Enough time has passed that the consequences of these cuts can now be assessed.

On the humanitarian side, support for the treatment of HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and cholera were drastically curtailed. The Lancet, a respected British medical journal, estimated that because of the cuts there will be between 4 to 8 million new HIV infections and approximately 2.9 million HIV deaths by 2030.

Researchers have estimated that in 2025, because of USAID programs 13 million malaria cases were prevented, saving countless lives. That program is now shuttered. A major study from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in 2025 estimated that USAID cuts could result in 14 million deaths, including 4.5 million children under 5, by 2030.

Even though these numbers are staggering, any assessment of the decision to cut USAID funds must also look beyond the humanitarian costs. Critics point to the enhanced diplomatic influence........

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