Mitr Clinic, India’s first transgender healthcare center, has ceased operations following a funding freeze imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The closure comes in the wake of a 90-day suspension of all U.S. foreign assistance, including over $40 billion allocated through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funding halt has impacted numerous global initiatives, including Project ACCELERATE, under which Mitr Clinic operated. The project, backed by USAID and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), provided healthcare services to the transgender community. Mitr Clinic offered free general health consultations, HIV counselling and screening, STI treatment, mental health support, gender affirmation services, and assistance with legal and social protection schemes.
Rachana, a trans health expert associated with the clinic, confirmed that operations were suspended soon after the funding cut was announced in late January. “We were informed that the U.S. President had announced a halt to our clinic’s funding, and since then, the clinic has been shut,” she said to The Hindu.
Established in January 2021 in Hyderabad’s Narayanguda, Mitr Clinic expanded to Pune and Thane following its initial success. However, the future of these centers remains uncertain. As of January 2025, the Hyderabad clinic employed seven transgender individuals and served 150–200 LGBTQIA+ members each month. The abrupt closure has left staff unemployed and deprived a vulnerable community of critical healthcare services.
Until June 2024, the clinic had registered over 4,900 clients, with a significant focus on addressing the HIV burden among transgender individuals. Data revealed a 6% HIV positivity rate, with 83% of diagnosed patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Political Fallout Over USAID Funding In India
The funding freeze has sparked political controversy in India, with authorities now investigating allegations that USAID spent $21 million to influence Indian elections. The claim, based on a report by the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, has fueled debates over foreign interference in India’s internal affairs.
Additionally, U.S. Senator John Kennedy recently questioned why American taxpayer money was funding programs such as Mitr Clinic. In a public speech, he criticized USAID’s financial allocations, stating, “USAID gave money to support electric vehicles in Vietnam with our taxpayers’ money. USAID gave money to a transgender clinic in India. I didn’t know that. I bet the American people didn’t know that. Musk also found that USD 1.5 million was given to Serbian LGBT organisations. They got the money to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbian workplaces and business communities.”
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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