Since 1992, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided over $1 billion (€ 0,93 billion) in financial assistance for a variety of projects in the Republic of Moldova.

These projects were spread over a wide range of sectors, including education, tourism, agriculture, viticulture, industry, IT, public administration, justice, combating corruption, energy development, road infrastructure, media and civil society.

Understandably, therefore, the USAID funding freeze will have a major impact on Moldova in both the short and the long term. 

Efforts to strengthen Moldova's energy security will be particularly badly hit, losing about $300 million (€278 million) in financial support. This included the construction of a high-voltage line between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The project was announced in 2022 by former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Energy security is a major issue in Moldova.

But the cuts will also have an impact at local level. DW paid a visit to the fire station in the village of Sireti, near the capital, Chisinau, to see what the loss of USAID support will have on the community.