I agree. But doing it in a way that could possibly destroy our ability to provide aid effectively in the future is troubling. Because that’s what’s happening. Fix USAID. Hell, even get rid of it. But make a clear argument, get audit results, etc. What’s happening now is causing chaos, usurping congressional power, and is setting a dangerous precedent.
The entirety of USAID direct staff are being pulled from their foreign positions and returned to the US to be put on administrative leave. Just about every USAID-funded foreign project has ceased or is ceasing and its staff have been released.
And somehow the foreign aid they provide is not ending? Then who is doing that work?
USAID has also been the deep state’s way to subvert US foreign policy and to force allies into submission.
For example, consider what happened after Zelensky’s landslide victory as a peace candidate in 2019. Zelensky initially attempted to implement the Minsk agreement and to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine. Trump reportedly supported these efforts.
USAID reportedly made clear that any accommodation in eastern Ukraine would result in a cutoff of aid to Ukraine. Unelected officials at USAID effectively overrode the elected presidents in both Ukraine and the US.