Hundreds of diplomats from the U.S. State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are protesting against the dissolution of the agency. They have addressed a letter on the matter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Opponents of these plans argue that dismantling USAID undermines U.S. leadership and security, leaving a vacuum to be filled by China and Russia.
According to more than 700 signatories of the letter, the Trump administration’s decision on January 20 to freeze nearly all foreign aid also endangers American diplomats. At the same time, it puts at risk the lives of millions of people abroad who rely on U.S. assistance.
“The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid agreements and allocated benefits threatens our partnerships with key allies, undermines trust, and creates opportunities for adversaries to expand their influence,” the document states.
President Donald Trump, in implementing the “America First” agenda, ordered a 90-day suspension of all foreign aid. He also halted USAID operations worldwide, jeopardizing life-saving food supplies and medical aid while creating chaos in global humanitarian efforts.
“The freeze on life-saving aid has already caused irreversible damage and suffering for millions of people around the world. (…) Foreign aid is not charity. It is a strategic tool that stabilizes regions, prevents conflicts, and promotes U.S. interests,” argue the authors of the letter.
Reuters noted that in the 2023 fiscal year, the U.S. provided $72 billion in aid worldwide. This includes support for women’s health in conflict zones, access to clean water, HIV/AIDS treatment, energy security, and anti-corruption initiatives. The administration has decided to eliminate funding for 5,800 different projects worth $54 billion.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block Washington from making payments to foreign aid organizations for work they had already completed. In doing so, it upheld a lower court ruling that ordered immediate disbursement of payments to contractors.