A Day of Goodbyes at USAID Headquarters
On Thursday, hundreds of workers from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) returned to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in downtown Washington, D.C., to collect their personal belongings. Just one month prior, these employees had been going about their work as usual, never imagining that their jobs would be taken away so abruptly. The scene was somber as they were allowed only 15 minutes each to clear out their desks—a stark contrast to the decades of dedicated service many had given to the agency. The sudden dismantlement of USAID, a 63-year-old institution, has left many in shock and disbelief. The agency’s signage had already been removed from the building, a visible symbol of the Trump administration’s decision to effectively dismantle the organization.
The Impact of USAID’s Work and Its Abrupt End
USAID has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign aid, with an annual budget of around $40 billion. The agency’s work has been instrumental in providing food and medicine to impoverished communities, delivering disaster relief, monitoring diseases, supporting development projects, and promoting pro-democracy and civil society programs around the world. Its efforts have been particularly focused on poor and developing countries in Africa and Asia. Despite its critical role, foreign aid constitutes less than 1% of the federal budget. Yet, the Trump administration has moved swiftly to cancel nearly 10,000 contracts and grants, effectively eliminating about 90% of USAID’s work. This decision has left millions of people around the world vulnerable, as programs that were once a lifeline for many are now being abruptly terminated.
Democrats Condemn the Cuts as Reckless and Irresponsible
The decision to dismantle USAID has been met with fierce criticism from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In a joint statement, they denounced the Trump administration’s foreign aid review as “not a serious effort or attempt at reform but rather a pretext to dismantle decades of U.S. investment that makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” They argued that ending programs without considering the consequences would jeopardize millions of lives and create a power vacuum that adversaries like China and Russia could exploit. The Democrats also called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime supporter of foreign aid who has now overseen its dismantlement, to appear before their committee. “We expect him to not only consult with Congress but follow the law,” their statement read.
Legal Challenges and Political Controversy
The Trump administration’s decision to cut off funding for USAID has sparked a legal battle, with aid groups filing a lawsuit to stop the process. The administration argues that USAID had become wasteful and detached from vital U.S. interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed, without providing evidence, that the agency’s employees had undermined the administration’s efforts to review and limit their work. However, Democrats and even some Republicans have questioned the constitutionality of the sweeping cuts, as many of the programs being eliminated were approved by Congress. The legal challenge reached the Supreme Court, which handed the administration a partial victory by ruling that it did not have to meet a federal judge’s deadline to pay aid providers more than $1.5 billion for completed work. Nonetheless, the broader legal and political issues remain unresolved.
Emotional Farewells and a sense of loss
The sudden and abrupt nature of the firings has left many USAID employees feeling blindsided and heartbroken. Workers were given no time to say goodbye or wrap up their work; they were immediately barred from accessing the agency’s offices, computer systems, and email accounts. An email sent on Tuesday informed them that they could return to their desks on Thursday and Friday to collect their belongings, but they were given strict time limits and no support for packing or transportation. The email also included a detailed list of prohibited items, which some interpreted as a sign of extreme distrust. Many workers were visibly emotional as they left the building for the last time, some in tears. Among the crowd of supporters gathered outside was Samantha Power, who led USAID during the Biden administration. She hugged workers and expressed her solidarity, calling the moment “heartbreaking.”
The Broader Implications of USAID’s Demise
The dismantlement of USAID has far-reaching implications, both for the people who relied on its programs and for the United States’ role on the global stage. Organizations like the International Rescue Committee have already lost dozens of contracts and grants, forcing them to make difficult decisions about which services to continue and which to cut. David Miliband, the IRC’s president and CEO, called on the American public, corporations, and philanthropists to step in and support these critical programs. “We now face the starkest of stark choices about which services can be protected,” he said. The closure of USAID also raises questions about the future of U.S. foreign policy and its ability to address global challenges like poverty, disease, and political instability. As the agency’s workers said their final goodbyes, many couldn’t help but wonder what the loss of this institution would mean for the world—and for America’s place in it.
