The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing entitled America Last: How Foreign Aid Undermined U.S. Interests Around the World on Feb. 26 on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its mission strengthening our national security.
Unfortunately, statements from some committee members and witnesses were misleading at best, gaslighting at worst, and most certainly an attempt to shut down without good reason the agency that represents the very best of America.
Many members of the committee, for example, attacked certain programs like those that involve climate change and LGBTQ+ initiated by President Biden because they didn’t agree with them.
Disagreeing with the existence of a program doesn’t equate to fraud and abuse. As a former USAID administrator under President George W. Bush pointed out in an interview, it’s normal for a new administration to come in and change a program or come up with their own programs, but it’s not right to abolish an entire agency just because they don’t like certain programs.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., was right when he pointed out that it was unfair to single out USAID which passed its financial audits and whose budget is less than 1% of the entire federal budget. In the meantime, Elon Musk is pushing for tax cuts that benefit him and his billionaire friends while trying to shut down programs that the American people rely on.
USAID also plays a vital role in our country’s economy. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. government has purchased more than $2 billion in food annually from American farmers, who supply more than 40% of the food aid USAID sends around the world. USAID’s health efforts help prevent outbreaks of diseases from reaching our shores.
Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury, D-New Mexico, was rightly frustrated when she said that behind closed doors her Republican colleagues have been calling Trump telling him their constituents don’t support what he’s doing.
USAID has been a beacon of hope. From providing life-saving food and shelter to curbing the spread of diseases, USAID helps portray the United States in a positive light in the mind of people around the world. To USAID employees, the phrase “From the American People” is more than a motto but America’s generosity and desire to make this world a better place.
As our national security relies heavily on global stability and diplomacy alongside defense, the Trump administration and this Congress’ attack on USAID’s dedicated civil servants and its mission has caused immediate harm to our homeland. AFGE will continue to fight for our USAID members. Visit us at www.afge.org/USAID.
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