Trump USAID Cuts Force Nepal LGBTQ+ Workers Into Sex Work

The dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Donald Trump has forced approximately 100 LGBTQ+ aid workers in Nepal into sex work to avoid starvation. A funding freeze that began in January 2025 disabled critical organizations, including Friends Hetauda and the umbrella group Blue Diamond Society, the latter of which relied on USAID for 85% of its budget.

These organizations previously operated 20 clinics providing counseling, HIV testing, and PrEP medication. The loss of funding has eliminated access to HIV prevention medication for more than 1,200 clients. Former workers, such as Rubi Lama and Sujata Chaudhary, report that conservative cultural barriers and systemic discrimination have left them with no other legal employment options.

Beyond the immediate economic collapse, the displacement of these workers has increased the risk of violence and disease. The Blue Diamond Society warned that the executive order leading to these cuts would cause people to die.