The American Bar Association, or ABA, Center for Global Programs was forced to lay off 170 staff and close 25 offices worldwide. Only two international offices remain open, in Tunisia and Jordan. As of April 2025, the entity was already 50% smaller in size than it was in January 2025.
Date: 4/26
Region: Global
Country: Global
Topic: Governance & Rights
Policy Lens: Economic & Trade Interests
Entry Type: Operational Impact
Additional Context: According to the ABA's initial court filing, the organization was implementing 19 USAID projects and 59 State Department projects at the time of the funding freeze. At least $42 million in future funding was frozen from the State Department alone.
Devex Researcher Note: Since the initial freeze the ABA has received notice that other grants from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice were terminated. These cancellations have sparked new court proceedings. Most recently, the Department of Labor has been forced to formally cut ties with the association.
Source: ABA Journal