Trump Administration's Secrecy on Global Health Deals Raises Concerns Among Experts and Governments
The Trump administration has been negotiating agreements with poorer nations to reimagine U.S. foreign assistance for health initiatives like HIV and tuberculosis prevention under a new 'America First' strategy. These negotiations have resulted in 28 deals, primarily with African countries, but the administration has not disclosed the full terms of these agreements. This lack of transparency has frustrated partner countries and transparency advocates, who fear that U.S. funding intended to combat disease is being used to leverage controversial concessions on unrelated policies. Public Citizen, a government watchdog group, has filed a lawsuit demanding access to these agreements, arguing that the State Department's failure to produce records is unlawful. The State Department has stated it will disclose the terms once negotiations are complete, citing the need to protect sensitive conversations. 
