Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, held a bilateral meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation at his Capitol Building office.
The high-level delegation was led by Senator Jack Reed and Representative Gabriel Amo, and accompanied by the U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mr. Joseph E. Zadrozny.
Discussions focused on strengthening Liberia–U.S. relations, the potential application of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact grant, and the impact of reductions in United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding.
The delegation inquired about how the Liberian government is responding to USAID funding cuts, particularly in critical sectors such as health and education.
In response, Vice President Koung explained that the government has undertaken significant budgetary realignments to safeguard essential programs that were previously supported by USAID.
These include HIV/AIDS interventions through GAVI, school feeding initiatives, and scholarship opportunities for Liberian students.
“Despite the challenges posed by the reduction in USAID support, the government remains committed to ensuring that vital health and education services are sustained. We have prioritized spending cuts in other areas in order to allocate resources to programs that directly affect the lives of our people,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Koung further underscored that, if awarded, the MCC Compact would play a pivotal role in addressing Liberia’s pressing developmental needs in health, education, infrastructure, and energy.
Senator Reed reaffirmed the delegation’s purpose, noting that their visit was aimed at better understanding the challenges Liberia faces, as well as the opportunities for continued partnership between the two countries.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the long-standing ties between Liberia and the United States.
