War of words breaks out on X over shutdown of Hyderabad-based Mitr Clinic due to USAID fund freeze

Closure of Mitr Clinic follows Trump administration’s decision to clamp 90-day freeze on all US foreign assistance allocated through the United States Agency for International Development

Hyderabad: US President Donald Trump’s USAID fund freeze has hit too close to home, with the Hyderabad-based Mitr Clinic, India’s first transgender clinic, shutting down due to the recently elected President’s order.

This has led to an uproar on social media, with netizens lashing out at the consequences of the Big Brother’s actions. The war of words grew louder when Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head, shared a post by ‘World of Statistics’, which read: “NEWS: India’s first transgender clinic, Mitr Clinic in Hyderabad, shuts down due to USAID fund freeze.” To this, Musk wrote: “That’s what American tax dollars were funding.”

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That’s what American tax dollars were funding https://t.co/E4IQSoj9NV

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 28, 2025

X users filled the comments section with both condemnation and support. “Maybe they (Mitr Clinic) were funding something good indeed: Until June 2024, the clinic had registered over 4,900 clients, focusing on the significant HIV burden among transgender individuals, with a 6% HIV positivity rate and 83% of those diagnosed receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART),” wrote a user, Andreas Backhaus.

“Countless children and youth were spared from dangerous gender transition experiments — stopping USAID funding and shutting this clinic is a big win for India’s future. Special thanks to @elonmusk @realDonaldTrump @POTUS,” wrote verified user Pritesh.

Another user, I Am Blue, questioned the Trump administration’s priorities. “Ah, yes, because providing essential healthcare services to marginalized communities is such a frivolous use of funds. Mitr Clinic in Hyderabad offered free general health consultations, HIV screening and treatment, mental health support and gender-affirming services to transgender individuals who often face discrimination in mainstream healthcare settings. But sure, let’s pretend that supporting human rights and public health abroad is a waste, while ignoring the billions spent on subsidies and contracts that benefit already wealthy corporations. Priorities, right?”

In January 2021, the USAID-supported ACCELERATE programme, implemented by Johns Hopkins University, launched India’s first comprehensive clinic for the transgender community in Hyderabad. Known as Mitr Clinic, it serves as a one-stop centre providing comprehensive services for the transgender community. Subsequently, a second was opened in July.

The closure of Mitr Clinic follows the Trump administration’s decision to clamp a 90-day freeze on all US foreign assistance allocated through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In Telangana, the USAID has sponsored projects in the areas of water, sanitation, healthcare and forests, among others. The closure of the US agency could further deal a body blow to the ongoing projects, especially given the weak financial position of the Congress-led Telangana government.