By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and MICHELLE GUMEDE

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The U.S. government has signed health deals with at least nine African countries, part of its new approach to global health funding, with agreements that reflect the Trump administration’s interests and priorities and are geared toward providing less aid and more mutual benefits.

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The agreements signed so far, with Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda among others, are the first under the new global health framework, which makes aid dependent on negotiations between the recipient country and the U.S.

Some of the countries that have signed deals either have been hit by U.S. aid cuts or have separate agreements with the Trump administration to accept and host third-country deportees, although officials have denied any linkage.

The Trump administration says the new “America First” global health funding agreements are meant to increase self-sufficiency and eliminate what it says are ideology and waste from international assistance. The deals replace a patchwork of previous health agreements under the now-dismantled United States Agency for International Development.

U.S. aid cuts have crippled health systems across the developing world, including in Africa, where many countries relied on the funding for crucial programs, including those responding to outbreaks of disease.

The new approach to global health aligns with President Donald Trump’s pattern of dealing with other nations transactionally, using direct talks with foreign governments to promote his agenda abroad. It builds on his sharp turn from traditional U.S. foreign assistance, which supporters say furthered American interests by stabilizing other countries and economies and building alliances.

A different strategy

The deals mark a sharp departure from how the U.S. has provided health care funding over the years and mirrors the Trump administration’s interests.

FILE – A pharmacist counts HIV medicine inside a clinic in Ha Lejone, Lesotho, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File)

South Africa, which has lost most of its U.S. funding — including $400 million in annual support — due in part to its disputes with the U.S., has not signed a health deal, despite having one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, reached a deal but with an emphasis on Christian-based health facilities, although it has a slight majority Muslim population. Rwanda and Uganda, which each have deportation deals with the U.S., have announced the health pacts.

Cameroon, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia and Mozambique also are among those that have signed health deals with the U.S.

According to the Center for Global Development, a Washington think tank, the deals “combine U.S. funding reductions, ambitious co-financing expectations, and a shift toward direct government-to-government assistance.”

The deals represent a reduction in total U.S. health spending for each country, the center said, with annual U.S. financial support down 49% compared with 2024.

A faith-based deal in Nigeria, a lifeline for several others

Under its deal, Nigeria, a major beneficiary of USAID funds, would get support that has a “strong emphasis” on Christian faith-based health care providers.

The U.S. provided approximately $2.3 billion in health assistance to Nigeria between 2021 and 2025, mostly through USAID, official data shows. The new five-year agreement will see U.S. support at over $2 billion, while Nigeria is expected to raise $2.9 billion to boost its health care programs.

The agreement “was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence and includes significant dedicated funding to support Christian health care facilities,” the State Department said in a statement.

The department said “the president and secretary of state retain the right to pause or terminate any programs which do not align with the national interest,” urging Nigeria to ensure “that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.”

FILE – Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a news conference at the State Department, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

For several other countries, the new deals could be a lifeline after U.S. aid cuts crippled their health care systems and left them racing to fill the gaps.

Under its deal, Mozambique will get U.S. support of over $1.8 billion for HIV and malaria programs. Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in the world, clinched a deal worth over $232 million.

In the tiny kingdom of Eswatini, the U.S. committed to provide up to $205 million to support public health data systems, disease surveillance and outbreak response, while the country agreed to increase domestic health expenditures by $37 million.

No deal for South Africa after disputes

South Africa is noticeably absent from the list of signatories following tensions with the Trump administration.

Trump has said he will cut all financial assistance to South Africa over his widely rejected claims that it is violently persecuting its Afrikaner white minority.

The dismantling of USAID resulted in the loss of over $436 million in yearly financing for HIV treatment and prevention in South Africa, putting the program and thousands of jobs in the health care industry at risk.

Health compacts with countries that signed deportation deals

At least four of the countries that have reached deals previously agreed to receive third-country deportees from the U.S., a controversial immigration policy that has been a trademark of the Trump administration.

The State Department has denied any linkage between the health care compacts and agreements regarding accepting third-country asylum seekers or third-country deportees from the United States. However, officials have said that political considerations unrelated to health issues may be part of the negotiations.

Rwanda, one of the countries with a deportation deal with the U.S., signed a $228 million health pact requiring the U.S. to support it with $158 million.

Uganda, another such country, signed a health deal worth nearly $2.3 billion in which the U.S. will provide up to $1.7 billion. Also Eswatini, which has started receiving flights with deported prisoners from the U.S.

Associated Press writers Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, Dyepkazah Shibayan in Abuja, Nigeria, Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK (AP) — A coalition of 21 attorneys general from Democratic-led states sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its director, Russell Vought, on Monday, asserting that the White House’s argument to withhold funds from the consumer protection agency is unconstitutional.

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The lawsuit has to do with the Trump administration’s argument that the CFPB can only be funded by the Federal Reserve’s profits. The Federal Reserve has been running a loss since 2022, a side effect of the Fed raising interest rates sharply to combat inflation, because it holds bonds that pay low interest from the pandemic but it needs to pay out higher amounts of interest to the banks that hold their deposits with the bank.

The White House has argued for several months that the CFPB cannot lawfully draw funds to fund its operations from the Fed if the Fed does not have “combined earnings” to allocate to the bureau. Without additional funds, the CFPB is expected to deplete its operating funds completely in January.

The phrase “combined earnings” is found in the text of the Dodd-Frank Act, the law that created the CFPB more than a decade ago. Legislators and policymakers from the time Dodd-Frank was crafted have argued that the phrase “combined earnings” was not meant to infer the Fed needed to make an actual profit to fund the CFPB. The White House’s interpretation of the Dodd-Frank Act is being litigated in a separate lawsuit filed by the CFPB employees’ union against Vought.

The Democratic AGs argue that the CFPB was lawfully created by Congress and the White House cannot pick and choose which parts of the government it wishes to fund or not. Further, the CFPB is required to provide consumer complaint information to the individual states to stop bad actors, and if the CFPB is not operating, it cannot meet its statutory requirements.

“Defunding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will make it harder to stop predatory lenders, scammers, and other bad actors from taking advantage of New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Letitia James of New York.

A spokeswoman for Vought did not respond to an email for comment.

Too easy to steal? Whom to sue, then?

Recently our elected state officials sued and won a settlement with auto makers Kia and Hyundai over the lack of anti-theft technology installed in their cars from 2011 to 2022.  Minnesota said the lack of protective measures made it “easy” to steal the cars. Our Minnesota legal representatives argued that “greed” on the side of Kia and Hyundai played a part in the ease of theft opportunities. The resulting settlement will result in a loss of nearly $500 million to Kia and Hyundai.

Hmm, so it wasn’t people who stole the cars? It was the auto-makers’ fault for making it too easy to steal them?

I don’t get it.

What I also don’t get is who we should sue in the state of Minnesota for making it too “easy” to steal money from tax-paying citizens in the form of multiple fraud schemes. Do we sue ourselves for financial ineptitude (if there is such a thing)? That would be like robbing Peter to pay Peter. That makes no sense. What makes sense is knowing the simple differences between right and wrong and protecting those institutions of right and wrong. Stealing is stealing no matter what form it’s in and whether it’s easy or not. It’s just plain wrong.

With all the financial dealings Minnesota has had to endure this year and for the foreseeable future, our hope should be that we learned some things.  If we wise up, there should be no decisions left to be made in our state’s future direction, thereby offering Minnesotans the opportunity to make the right choices this next November.

Mark Kirchner, St. Paul

 

A good idea, $3 billion ago

Given the incredibly tragic events that have recently occurred around the world, pure politics today can seem quite secondary. However, we can’t change any of that, so let’s focus on what we can change.

On Dec. 12, Gov. Tim Walz announced the creation of “a new statewide fraud prevention program.” That strategy would have been very meaningful about $3 billion ago

Here is a simple, straightforward, two-step fraud prevention program: Replace Walz and Keith Ellison, problem solved.

In the last few days, Walz has launched an attack on “assault weapons.” Obviously, no one has ever been able to define exactly what that terminology actually means, but let’s not let that stand in the way. The one thing that is clear is that this new effort has nothing to do with weapons, it’s all about dancing far away from the revolting fraud scandal that has the entire nation tuned in.

The governor has long been accused of being less than truthful, but it is fascinating to hear his non-response to reporters’ legitimate questions, some calling it word salad. That is not only not nearly harsh enough, but also very unfair to salads.

Jon Swenson, Eagan

 

Policies that hinder growth

Recently we were shocked that the amount of tax added to our restaurant bill was close to 9%. Added to inflation for food and other goods, working families are struggling.

What policies are hindering economic growth? Over-taxation for one, regulations that make it costly to build housing, and energy mandates that increase the cost of fuel and electricity rates to mention some. While “high-minded” sustainability goals sound nice, these policies increase costs for families, consumers and businesses. When fewer people eat out or shop, that means less tax revenue. Businesses closing, choosing to leave or not come to Minnesota mean less tax revenue for vital services and programs. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce recently reported, using US Census data, that Minnesota had “a net loss of 47,930 residents between 2020 and 2024.”

Policies have consequences. Let’s bring down the cost of fuel, thus inflation, with reasonable policies that everyone can live with. The resulting growth will naturally bring in needed revenue.

Linda Stanton, Woodbury

 

Bigger tax refunds are likely

Tax filing season is just around the corner, and many people might be pleasantly surprised with their federal tax refund for 2025. If a significant part of their income is from tips, overtime, and/or social security, they will have a lower tax bill. If the amount withheld for federal taxes was not reduced during the year, they overpaid and will get a bigger refund when they file.

Middle-income seniors with a marginal tax rate of 22% who earned more than $6,000 in social security benefits, will save $1,320. Spouses will also save $1,320, if they are in same situation.

The tax savings on tips and overtime depends on each individual’s situation and how the income was reported. In most cases, the tax savings will be significant.

Going forward, people might want to reduce the amount federal tax withheld from their pay during 2026, so they get more to spend each month, instead of waiting for a big refund in 2027.

Dennis A. Helander, White Bear Lake

 

It’s time for Dean Phillips

Does Gov. Walz need a burning bush? Why doesn’t he see he should withdraw from the current race and let the DFL have a primary? Every day there are new revelations as to the breadth and scope of this fraud, and repeated failed opportunities to address it.  The GOP smells blood in the water, and I assume will shout this from every rooftop. Unless they run Mr. My Pillow, they will win handily and may take other constitutional offices .

Only with a new face does the DFL stand a chance to avoid another Minnesota Massacre. And as much as I would like to see a Gov. Flanagan, she also is tainted by this ever-growing failure.

My choice would be Dean Phillips, the only Democrat who told the nation the truth, and that puts him so far ahead of the pack you can’t see second place.  The party should go to him hat in hand, asking he spend that currency to salvage what otherwise will be a sinking ship.

Andy Lynn, Mendota Heights

 

And where was the bipartisan committee?

The multiple incidents of fraud that have scarred Minnesota is appalling, and are currently being investigated and processed, resulting in numerous convictions so far. How much money to be recovered has yet to be determined.

Who is to blame for this fraud? The fraudsters of course. But hard-earned taxpayer dollars need to have continued oversight to make sure that they’re spent wisely and for the benefit of all Minnesotans.

Yes, the fraud occurred during Gov. Tim Walz’ administration, but isn’t this why the House’s bipartisan Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy committee exists? It seems that the members of the committee, consisting of Democrats and Republicans, have failed to do their jobs over the years. (Currently, there are five Republican and three Democrat committee members with three administrators, of whom two are Republicans.)

Prosecute the fraudsters to the full extent pf the law, and be very aggressive in clawing back the hard-earned tax dollars that were stolen.

But also, hold the bipartisan committee members and administrators accountable for not doing their jobs.

Craig Belisle, Woodbury

 

Please don’t sell the Bolstad golf course

The University of Minnesota Les Bolstad golf course is a gem that needs to be protected. In an effort to preserve the course, a group of concerned citizens have repeatedly tried to engage with the appropriate channels at the University. Unfortunately we have found the following commentary to be exactly the case:

“….board leadership deferred to the U president … despite gaps in planning and public consideration” — Michael Martin (Star Tribune, Dec. 11)

Isn’t public consideration the main purpose for University of Minnesota Regents to exist?

They are seemingly unaware of the impact on the community with the sale of the property. There’s been minimal communication other than an email this past spring that a sale was planned for the golf course, which is profitable. After having owned the property since the early 1900s, the university told us to expect a sale and subsequent development. Housing, light commercial and roads. Heartbreaking and not fair. (One mile or two in any direction from the course is already developed, a more practical option for the urgent affordable housing crisis).

The landscape is home to beautiful flora and fauna including red oaks, coyotes, migratory birds and pollinators. The University of Minnesota Dept. of Horticulture uses the property for two ongoing studies including how native plants on the course affect pollinators.

The course also has mercury and arsenic in the soil from many years of fertilizer use. Under the grass of that property is a substantial amount of peat moss, which is unstable for development purposes but acts as a carbon sink. Any development would require stripping land bare. Devastating and not right. Therefore uf a sale were to occur, we are prepared to pursue environmental litigation.

A group of concerned citizens started a petition asking the University to not sell. It has more than 2,200 signatures. For about $30 million, the University has considered the price but not the value of the property. Neighbors are understandably upset. Golfers and Nordic skiers are sad. The kids on our cross country team who live by the course said they are scared. The golf course is not only for collegiate athletes. The MSHSL Cross Country State Meet and Griak Invitational have hosted thousands of high school student/athletes.

President Cunningham and Regents: Please do not sell Les Bolstad golf course. This group of concerned citizens is willing to work with the University and help find a solution for this issue, including fundraising for upgrades. Green space is invaluable and facilitates recreation, athletics, and impacts community health and well-being.

Tim Kersey, Roseville
The writer is head coach of the cross country and track and field teams at Como Park Senior High School

 

The malady possessed by the patient in question

It’s time we start calling things as they are. In classical medical parlance, the word “syndrome” refers to a group of symptoms that describe a condition that relates to the malady possessed by the patient in question. If you have irritable bowel, carpal tunnel or Down syndrome it is your gut/wrist/genetics that are affected, not someone else’s. When the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” or TDS, was first coined, it was supposedly (and I contend mistakenly) meant to refer to the bizarre and distorted opinions voiced by critics of Trump and not to the president himself. More correctly, TDS should be used to describe the despicable and unbalanced behavior that Trump himself exhibits on a daily basis and which threatens the basic fabric of our democracy. Let’s get this straight. Trump is the patient, and it is he who is deranged.

John W. Wheeler, M.D., Maplewood

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“Kablooey!”

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That’s the word U.S. Geological Survey volcanic experts used to describe a muddy eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park on Saturday morning.

Video shared by the USGS on social media shows mud spraying up and out from the pool just before 9:23 a.m. in Biscuit Basin about midway between park favorites Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic.

Other recent eruptions have mostly been audible and not visible, because they happened either at night or when the camera was obscured by ice.

The agency said the Black Diamond Pool was previously the site of a hydrothermal explosion, in July 2024, that sent rocks and mud flying hundreds of feet high and damaged a boardwalk. It prompted the closure of the area to visitors due to the damage and the potential for additional hazardous activity.

So-called dirty eruptions reaching up to 40 feet have occurred sporadically since then.

Researchers installed a new camera and a seismic and acoustic monitoring station this summer, and they say the instruments, along with temperature sensors maintained by the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program, can better detect and characterize the eruptions.

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory webcam at Black Diamond Pool didn’t disappoint Saturday.

“We got a nice clear view of one of these dirty eruptions under bright blue skies with the surroundings covered in snow (ah, winter in Yellowstone!),” USGS Volcanoes said on social media, noting that it was a great example of the kind of activity that has been happening at the spot over the past 19 months.

Experts say there is no real pattern to the eruptions at the pool and no precursors.

Park officials say Yellowstone preserves the most extraordinary collection of hot springs, geysers, mud pots and fumaroles on Earth. More than 10,000 hydrothermal features are found within the park, over 500 of them geysers.