In the two weeks since President Trump imposed a freeze on foreign assistance, thousands of USAID employees have been laid off and programs shut down worldwide. Billionaire Elon Musk announced that Trump agreed to shut down the agency. More than 600 employees reported being locked out of the agency’s computer systems. Trump stated that shutting down USAID “should have been done a long time ago.” Musk is leading a civilian review of the federal government and is advocating for the agency’s closure.
The closure of USAID, the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid, is part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on federal programs. The move has disrupted decades of US policy centered on humanitarian, development, and security assistance. Trump, Musk, and Republicans in Congress have criticized the US foreign assistance program, accusing it of waste and advancing liberal social programs. Democrats have pushed back, calling the shutdown an illegal power grab and an abuse of power.
USAID was created by President Kennedy during the Cold War as a way to counter Soviet influence abroad. Today, supporters of the agency argue that US assistance plays a crucial role in countering Russian and Chinese influence in various countries. The shutdown of USAID has sparked court challenges and opposition from Democrats who have pledged to block State Department nominations until the shutdown is reversed. The closure of USAID represents a significant development in US foreign policy and has raised concerns about the future of international aid efforts.
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