A multiyear cleanup at a former U.S. air base in Vietnam was abruptly halted when the Trump administration cut funding, leaving tons of dioxin-contaminated soil exposed. The freeze also affected efforts to clear unexploded munitions, assist victims of Agent Orange, and and other war legacy remediation efforts. Although funding was partially restored, uncertainty and confusion over the goodwill projects' future threatens to harm the trust built over decades between the former foes. It comes at a time when Vietnam is of growing strategic importance to the U.S. as Washington pushes back at increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.