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The suspension of programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has dealt a severe blow to civil society in Armenia and globally. 

On January 21, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals.

Shushan Doydoyan, President of the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA), compared the situation to the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. FOICA had to cancel a USAID-funded working discussion on “Defamation and Insult: Issues Related to the Media Sector" scheduled for January 30.

“I can fully equate this situation with the disruptions caused by COVID, which had a profound impact on civil society,” Doydoyan said in an interview with Panorama.am on Wednesday. “USAID implements programs in around 100 countries with a budget of over $50 billion. Now, all these programs have been frozen for 90 days. This is a highly uncertain situation.”

According to Doydoyan, the suspension affects not only civil society but also the millions of beneficiaries who have relied on these programs for support. However, she views the challenge as an opportunity, stressing that civil society should mobilize its resources to ensure stability and diversify funding sources.

“Of course, we are exploring alternative funding sources and we will inform the public about our steps. But this is a difficult situation, as there was no preparatory phase or consultation beforehand. The decision was a cold shower for civil society both in Armenia and globally,” she said.

Doydoyan stressed that the suspension would have a detrimental impact on non-governmental organizations and independent media outlets, which depend heavily on U.S. government funding for their operations.

“These disruptions could lead to significant economic challenges for independent media outlets that lack alternative financial support,” Doydoyan noted. “This situation has revealed the vulnerability and instability of civil society, which relies on donor funding and financial organizations to carry out its mission.”

Despite the negative consequences, Doydoyan emphasized the need for civil society to shift its focus toward exploring new opportunities to convey its messages to the public.