Trump’s dismantling of USAID harms U.S. interests and is a gift to our competitors | Opinion
The Trump administration’s effort to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) harms strategic U.S. interests, damages our international standing, increases risk to the world’s most vulnerable populations, and unjustly harms loyal and non-partisan public servants.
I should know — until six weeks ago, I was U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo — a country hosting a large USAID Mission. Our USAID colleagues were an integral and essential part of the interagency “Country Team” that I led, supporting our strategic efforts to promote stability and prosperity in an insecure corner of Europe.
USAID is a valuable tool of American foreign policy. At less than 1% of the federal budget, the work of our USAID colleagues is a bargain for America. The return on investment is huge with such successes as:
- Partnering with our military to combat ISIS in Syria
- Containing emerging health threats like Ebola globally
- Reducing illegal immigration by improving conditions in other countries
- Competing with China for economic influence
- Advancing security and stability in former war-torn regions such as Kosovo.
Diminishing or eliminating USAID programs and staff is a gift to our competitors. China’s development investments around the world have skyrocketed by 525% over the last 15 years; a withdrawal of U.S. development programs and personnel reduces our influence and ability to respond effectively to developments in key strategic regions.
The Trump administration’s sudden decision to recall almost the entire overseas USAID work force unjustly punishes dedicated public servants who faithfully implement U.S. policy and Congressionally-approved programs, often working in high-threat environments around the world at great personal risk.
USAID employees are patriots who implement the policy of the president and his national security team. They work for every president regardless of party or political affiliation. This reckless decision is creating chaos, sowing fear and greatly disrupting lives and careers, and negatively affecting families.
Likewise, the cost to the American taxpayer of this sudden, disorganized departure is not insignificant: a very low estimate of the cost to repatriate 1,400 USAID officers and their families is $20 million.
As a recent statement by a bipartisan group of five former USAID administrators who led the agency under Democratic and Republic presidents affirms: “to weaken and even destroy the agency is to the benefit of neither political party and the detriment of all Americans. … While we don’t agree on all issues, we wholeheartedly agree that USAID and America’s foreign assistance programs are vital to our interests, that the career men and women of USAID have served each of us well, and that it is the duty of the administration and Congress to swiftly protect the agency’s statutory role.”
This Trump administration effort to dismantle USAID harms priority U.S. interests, denies life-saving assistance, and mistreats loyal U.S. public servants.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM.