To highlight what is happening to US Foreign Aid?

[Locutus2000]

Elon Musk's taskforce have not just shut down NSAID (United States Agency for International Development) but are starting to actively erase its' existence.

Pressed about his support for USAID during his first term in office, Trump said he loved the “concept” but not the execution of the agency’s mission.
“They turn out to be radical left lunatics. And the concept of it is good, but it’s all about the people,” he said.

USAID logos and photos showing the humanitarian work the agency does around the globe were removed from its offices last week, multiple sources familiar with the situation told CNN.

“All of the visuals have been taken down. These are like large-scale photos of our work in developing countries that are in our lobbies, in our galleys, in communal kitchens, hallways,” a USAID employee said.

Another USAID worker told CNN: “They’ve taken the photos off the walls, and we’re missing half of our colleagues because our colleagues are gone and have been let go, and everyone sort of feels like they’re walking around with a target on their back.”

When asked if leaders in their department appeared to have any more information on the future of the agency’s work, the source said: “Our senior leaders have all been fired.”

Regardless of your position on Foreign Aid, this type of scorched-earth petty bullying of dissidents has to be intolerable?

So much slipping through the cracks with the barrage of Executive Orders, all entirely by design.

This is all feels like banana republic / post communist block stuff, ignoring the more worrying parallels.

AIBU to feel comparisons to historic dictatorships are becoming increasingly valid, hyperbole aside? All live and on social media for our kids to watch.

However, it is shocking: my friend works for the foreign office and she is telling me SHOCKING stories about how this abrupt end of aid is going to impact very poor, very vulnerable people. We will definitely see the repercussions of this in terms of a rise in communicable diseases/women and children dying/asylum applications skyrocketing. I am sickened too, OP.

This is where we could be headed in the not too distant future. Reform aren't big on foreign aid, either.

I'm deeply worried and I'd like to talk to people about it. That isn't virtue signalling and the shutdown posts are entirely predictable.
Just because you're deeply worried it doesn't mean you should post here.
After all, you've made it very evident in your posts that you have no interest in what other posters have to say.
You just want your very own echo chamber where you can flail around.
A-get a grip
B-don't post on AIBU. There is a Politics area for this.

Why are you outraged tgat he took down some pictures? At least he stopped funding Hamas

Which "tiny group of individuals" are you referring to here OP?

Why the "be careful"...?
That reads as a threat?
Are you the only who is allowed an opinion?

Why should US taxpayers be funding Serbian DEI initiatives; transgender comics in Peru; a transgender opera in Colombia etc? It's clear that the whole thing needs a serious overhaul. This scorched earth approach might not be to everyone's taste, but maybe that's what the system needs.

The United States has the largest external debt in the world. The total number of U.S. Treasury securities held by foreign entities in December 2021 was $7.7 trillion, up from $7.1 trillion in December 2020.Total US federal government debt breached the $30 trillion mark for the first time in history in February 2022.

In 2023, 36.8 million people in the United States lived in poverty, which is 11.1% of the population.

Maybe all the money should be spent getting to a fiscally responsible place, rather than being sent abroad.
There has to be a breaking point where the debt must be tackled.

It is horrific. 43% of the world's development and aid gone overnight. People are already dying and this WILL generate more terrorist, not to mention a rise in Chinese power and influence. Do not underestimate the soft power this brought to the world.

Yes the system wasn't perfect and yes it had a low of flaws, but pulling the plug over night is not how to deal with vulnerable lives.

I have just read the article in the Guardian.
I was also shocked! The drama surrounding it all....
There are quite a few negative comments about the Agency itself here. I must confess I do not know about it, whether is following a suitable guide or going rogue. Integrating all government Agencies in a common objective makes sense.
But, what about the poor employess that have no idea if they do or do not have a job? Even if they do work hard and give it all, they will be worrying. I think they really can re-structure goverment agencies without that much of a drama and trauma. A bit of respect and consideration for the guys working there.
At least yhey are hiding weapons on their filing system, or plotting to blow up the White House, there is no reason to justify all this rush and extreme actions, is it?

The other thing being overlooked in all of this is that USAID is funded by Congress. For anyone who believes in a system of checks and balances and the separation of powers it is rather worrying that the will of Congress can be overturned by Executive Order.

Yeah, I can see why the average American doesn't feel like they should have to shoulder the burden for this much aid around the world.

Especially when every intervention in a foreign land, no matter how good the intentions, inevitably becomes a source for grievance and whining.

I’m with you OP, I work in Humanitarian aid in a conflict country that has (had) USAID funding (thankfully we don’t rely on it only) and it’s an absolute nightmare.

I think what people not in the sector don’t realise is the shocking lack of processes and systems. Billions in aid immediately being frozen, means in developing and conflict countries hospitals stop functioning, food and hygiene distributions stop, cash support to vulnerable people, livelihoods activities, water points, everything stops over night with no exit plan in place.

I’m all for ensuring audits are in place (and our USAID audits are extensive!) and that funds are used correctly but this lack of preparation is crazy not to mention all the incorrect information coming from the administration themselves.

As MSF has said - thousands of people are going to die.

The aid industry is rotten. Just look at the salaries (and pedophiles) at Oxfam. Good move I think.

These average Americans are, presumably, the same ones who think the rich should pay 'their fair share' in taxes to help them?

The Welsh government is cutting so much funding to arts that I actually think we could be considered in need of this help! Also, our universities closing down departments. Bring on the foreign aid please.

Thoughts in no particular order

Foreign aid is usually either an outright bung to foreign dictators or a cynical way to make countries dependent / in the "sphere of influence"

I wonder what the plan is to replace that bribery money - which China is very happy to supply in their colonialism 2.0 quest

On the other hand China is supplying it anyway so it seems the people who were meant to be bought, aren't staying bought, so why bother...

Regardless, this is clearly what was advertised and what his voters want, and as PP said if you want a stable job then don't get one that's dependent on political winds

I certainly prefer this to Starmer's version - don't just give away money, give away territory too!

God this thread is depressing. It's like being in a flat roofed pub with Farage and his cronies. I can see why we're all fucked.

@LifeExperience can you link to a sight which proves this? Thankd

When a country has 36 trillion dollars of debt it does make sense to stop giving money away abroad.

I cannot speak for the things to which @LifeExperience has alluded, but spending "foreign aid" at home is pretty normal in the UK too, but of course being British and obsessed with the appearance of probity we don't actually think of it like that.

Do you really think back in the day when the UK government provided Land Rovers to the developing world that it wasn't also about buying votes in Solihull??

Or when Crown Agents uses Japanese aid money to buy Land Rovers?

It’s really sad. So many vulnerable suffering people will die.

The US government has never been in the aid business. It's nearly all soft diplomacy as far as they're concerned. Bringing it under the State department recognises it for what it is.

The US administration has many more political appointees than our system. It's a double-edged sword. But it often means big upheavals at the outset of a new administration.

Why? Economically, why must the debt be tackled?

What would happen if it were not tackled?

The US civil service does not get purged between administrations. That's the point of it. They are non-political employees specifically to ensure continuity.