The U.S. Agency of International Development was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy as an independent agency of the federal government tasked with providing civilian foreign aid and development assistance. USAID came under fire at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second executive term as part of his reworking of the country’s foreign policy.
Trump’s move to dismantle USAID is both irresponsible and illegal. His decision casts aside American citizens and millions of people around the world who depend on USAID programs.
On Jan 20, Trump signed an executive order freezing almost all U.S. foreign aid initiatives for 90 days, which impacted a large portion of USAID’s programs worldwide, and on Feb. 4, Trump signed another EO announcing a review of the U.S.’s participation in and funding of international organizations such as UNESCO. In line with that, starting on Jan. 27, the Trump administration put over 600 USAID officials and personnel at home and abroad on administrative leave.
On Feb. 7, federal judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia blocked the attempt by issuing a temporary restraining order that reinstated the staffers and allowed those stuck on foreign soil 30 days to return to the U.S. at the government’s expense. Despite the block, USAID personnel were turned away from their offices in Washington when they showed up to work on Monday, and tarps were hung over the agency’s interior signage. Further, the agency’s website and X account have been suspended and are no longer accessible to the public.
The involvement of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency is questionable, as it was their investigation into USAID that recommended its dissolution. According to ProPublica, the way DOGE’s investigation into USAID’s financial records was carried out might have broken federal law. “USAID is a criminal organization,” Musk published on his X account. “Time for it to die.”
With it, life-saving humanitarian missions will die. Health programs around the world have shut down due to Trump’s freeze, medicine and medical supply shipments to communities in need have ceased and aid agencies have had to lay off staff. USAID is the world’s largest supplier of humanitarian aid and has made itself a necessity for the well-being of millions since its inception. For the U.S. to “feed [it] to the woodchipper,” as Musk put it, is to turn its back on the nation’s responsibilities and obligations as an international superpower.
Furthermore, the simple truth is Trump does not have the authority to do away with USAID as he pleases. It is an independent agency that requires an act of Congress to be dissolved. His actions against the agency lacked congressional notice or approval. Thus, they violated the principles of separation of powers outlined in the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. Trump’s hurry to overturn the government to suit his politics by signing EOs left and right leaves the country’s policies in disarray and the courts backed up with lawsuits.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian agencies of the world will have to learn to make do without the U.S.’ key contributions while USAID personnel battle with the government to retain their jobs.
