President Donald Trump ignited significant controversy among Democrats when the USAID website unexpectedly went offline on Friday, amid reports that he is considering transferring the agency’s oversight to the State Department. Some speculate that the president may even seek to abolish the organization entirely, a prospect that has been welcomed by critics of extensive U.S. foreign aid.
Former CBS News reporter Lara Logan expressed her support for the president’s actions, asserting that USAID functions as a front for the CIA. She stated, “As I have mentioned previously, USAID serves as a cover for the CIA. Alongside NGOs such as the Open Society Foundation, they have been utilizing U.S. taxpayer funds and government resources as if they were their own personal treasury. It has been exasperating to witness. I hope that the complete truth will eventually be revealed,” she remarked on X.
In response to a post by Senate Minority Leader and New York Senator Charles Schumer, who is among the many Democrats outraged by the president’s alleged intentions, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul declared, “Abolish USAID and all foreign aid.”
Senator Schumer criticized the president, stating, “Trump has been purging and intimidating USAID staff. Now there are rumors that he will dissolve USAID as an independent entity. This agency was established by JFK and codified in law to enhance our national security and promote hope. Such an action would be illegal and detrimental to our national interests.”
However, few expressed their outrage as vehemently as Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. He stated, “Allow me to clarify why the complete dismantling of USAID, which is currently underway, is of such significance. China, where Musk profits, desires the destruction of USAID. So does Russia. Trump and Musk are acting in accordance with the interests of Beijing and Moscow. Why?” he asserted without evidence on X.
He further claimed, “In the past week, 50% of the Global Health Bureau and 60% of the Humanitarian Assistance Bureau have been terminated. Aid programs across the board have been shut down. The U.S. is retreating from its global responsibilities. This is dystopian. There is no valid justification for it,” he expressed in what could be described as an emotional outburst.
The immediate repercussions of this situation are catastrophic. Infants suffering from malnutrition, reliant on U.S. assistance, will perish. Programs aimed at combating terrorism will cease operations, allowing our most formidable adversaries to gain strength. Diseases posing a threat to the United States will spread unchecked and reach our borders more swiftly, Murphy stated.
Furthermore, China is poised to take advantage of this gap. Developing nations will find themselves solely dependent on China for support, leading them to forge more agreements with Beijing, thereby granting it control over ports, essential mineral resources, and more. Consequently, U.S. influence will diminish, resulting in job losses within the country, the senator remarked.
However, Trump appears intent not only on terminating programs and dismissing personnel but is also considering the complete dissolution of the agency, potentially as soon as this weekend. Such an action would be unlawful, as he cannot unilaterally disband a federal agency, representing yet another violation of the Constitution. Additionally, it would serve as a further concession to China, he asserted.
The senator questioned the rationale behind such actions: Why grant a victory to terrorists, China, and Russia? Why intentionally endanger the lives of infants? Who stands to gain from Trump’s leniency towards our adversaries? Perhaps billionaires like Musk, who profit from dealings in China, or individuals investing in obscure Trump-related cryptocurrencies? The entire situation appears deeply corrupt, Murphy lamented.
While Senators Schumer, Murphy, and other Democrats argue that the president lacks the authority to abolish the agency through executive order, it is important to note that it was established by an executive order from the late President John F. Kennedy.
President Kennedy founded USAID during the peak of the Cold War to counteract Soviet influence. In 1961, Congress enacted the Foreign Assistance Act, which Kennedy signed into law, along with an executive order that designated USAID as an independent agency, as reported by CNN.
Although repealing the Foreign Assistance Act would require congressional action, the elimination of USAID or its integration into the State Department could occur without such measures.
“Live by executive order, die by executive order,” remarked Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on Saturday.
