India’s First Transgender Clinics Shut Down After Trump Administration Freezes USAID Funding

India’s first three transgender-focused healthcare clinics have been forced to close following a funding freeze by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The affected clinics, located in Hyderabad, Kalyan, and Pune, had been operational since 2021, providing essential services to nearly 5,000 transgender individuals. These services included hormone therapy guidance, mental health counseling, HIV and STI support, legal aid, and general medical care. Each clinic operated with an annual budget of up to 3 million rupees (about $34,338) and employed around eight staff members, most of whom were from the transgender community.

The closure follows Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order pausing all foreign aid for 90 days as part of his “America First” policy. While USAID has granted waivers to continue some life-saving services—such as providing antiretroviral medication for HIV-positive patients, who make up around 10% of the clinics’ clientele—other critical healthcare services have come to a halt.

The shutdown has sparked international attention, with Elon Musk, who serves as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a senior advisor to Trump, commenting on social media, “That’s what American tax dollars were funding.”

In response, the Indian government has acknowledged the situation and is reportedly assessing the impact of the funding freeze. Meanwhile, former clinic staff and local advocates are urgently seeking alternative funding sources to restore services for the transgender community.