Hundreds of diplomats from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAid) have taken a significant stand against the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle USAid. They have addressed their concerns in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighting the potential global repercussions of such a move. This protest comes amid the Supreme Court upholding a federal judge's order mandating USAid to disburse $1.5 billion in payments to its partners. Despite the administration's efforts to reduce federal workforce size and close the agency, USAid continues to provide crucial aid worldwide.
USAid has long been instrumental in delivering life-saving food and medical aid globally. The potential dismantling of the agency threatens to leave power vacuums that could be filled by China and Russia, according to diplomats. Currently, USAid operations have been halted, putting critical aid deliveries at risk. Linda McMahon has been instructed to take all legally permissible steps to close USAid, a directive that could significantly impact humanitarian relief efforts.
"The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid contracts and assistance awards without any meaningful review jeopardizes our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, and creates openings for adversaries to expand their influence," stated a cable from the concerned diplomats.
The Supreme Court’s decision to ensure USAid disbursements is a setback for the Trump administration, which aims to dismantle the agency. These disbursements are crucial for maintaining USAid's operations, and their suspension would have dire consequences for global humanitarian efforts. Moreover, the closure of USAid would profoundly affect the White House, though this impact remains largely unrecognized by the public.
"The federal bureaucratic hold on education must end. The department of education’s main functions can, and should, be returned to the states," reads a draft of an executive order reflecting broader administrative efforts to reduce federal oversight.
The draft order criticizes the current federal hold on education, asserting its failure towards children, teachers, and families. This sentiment ties into the Trump administration's broader strategy of reducing federal influence across various sectors.
In response to the potential closure of USAid, diplomats warn that such a move could erode trust with key allies and open doors for adversaries like China and Russia to extend their influence. USAid has been pivotal in providing humanitarian relief worldwide, and its dismantling would leave a significant gap in these efforts.
"The consequences in the White House are enormous and having a huge effect … but people aren’t aware," emphasized Sheldon Whitehouse, pointing out the broader implications of these administrative actions.