Hundreds of U.S. diplomats from the State Department and USAID have protested to Secretary of State Marco Rubio against the dismantling of USAID, arguing that it jeopardizes U.S. leadership and security while enabling China and Russia to exploit power vacuums. In a dissent cable, over 700 diplomats criticized the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid which they claim endangers lives and destabilizes global humanitarian efforts. The drastic cut of nearly 92% in aid contracts, elimination of thousands of staff, and failure to pay contractors further damaged U.S. partnerships and economic confidence. The Supreme Court recently ensured payments to aid organizations are upheld.
Washington:
A large number of diplomats from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development have officially expressed their concerns to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the dismantling of USAID. They argue that this move threatens U.S. leadership and security while creating power vacuums that could be exploited by China and Russia.
In a cable submitted through the department’s internal “dissent channel,” which allows diplomatic personnel to voice policy concerns anonymously, they stated that the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze initiated on January 20 also jeopardizes the safety of American diplomats and personnel abroad, putting at risk the lives of millions who rely on U.S. assistance.
According to a U.S. official who wished to remain anonymous, over 700 individuals have endorsed the letter.
“The halt in foreign aid contracts and assistance awards without thorough review threatens our alliances, undermines trust, and allows adversaries to gain ground,” the cable noted, with a copy reviewed by Reuters.
The Republican president, advocating an “America First” strategy, implemented a 90-day suspension on all foreign aid on his first day back in office. This action disrupted USAID projects worldwide, jeopardizing essential food and medical aid delivery and causing turmoil in global humanitarian efforts.
“The suspension of life-saving assistance has already inflicted severe harm and suffering on millions around the globe,” the letter stated, emphasizing that despite claims of issued waivers for essential programs, the funding remains inaccessible.
The president assigned billionaire adviser Elon Musk the task of disbanding USAID as part of a considerable effort to reduce the size of the federal government, which they consider to be plagued by waste and misuse of funds.
“Foreign assistance is not charity. It is, rather, a strategic asset that stabilizes regions, prevents conflicts, and promotes U.S. interests,” the letter asserted.
A spokesperson for the State Department, when inquired about the cable, responded: “We do not comment on leaked internal communications.”
In the fiscal year 2023, the United States allocated $72 billion in global aid, covering various initiatives from women’s health in conflict areas to access to clean water, HIV/AIDS treatment, energy security, and anti-corruption efforts.
After reviewing 6,200 multiyear awards, the administration resolved to eliminate close to 5,800 of these, valued at $54 billion, representing a 92% reduction, as noted by a State Department spokesperson. USAID also laid off or placed thousands of staff and contractors on administrative leave.
The cable indicated that the government’s inability to settle outstanding payments to contractors and implementing partners could have serious economic consequences.
“This financial strain not only diminishes confidence in the U.S. government as a dependable partner, but it also hampers domestic economic growth amid rising global competition,” the cable asserted.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday against allowing the administration to delay payments to foreign aid organizations for work that has already been completed, thus upholding a lower court’s directive for the administration to swiftly process payments to contractors.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Mark Porter and Howard Goller)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been altered by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated source.)