Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing critique against the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which was recently placed under the control of the State Department. "I love the concept, but they turned out to be radical left lunatics. The concept is good, but what matters is the people," he stated during an interview with FOX News.
The agency, responsible for overseeing funds directed towards foreign grants and international cooperation, was dismantled by the Trump administration. Their justification was to ensure that foreign aid aligns with U.S. national interests. "America is tired of being taken advantage of. We have a $36 trillion debt for a reason: because we make bad deals with everyone, and that's something we will no longer allow," emphasized Trump.
Marco Rubio Takes Interim Leadership
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assumed the role of interim director of USAID. Employees received an email advising them to stay home after the agency's website and social media accounts were deactivated over the weekend. The headquarters building was found cordoned off with yellow tape on Monday morning.
Elon Musk's Strong Words
Business magnate Elon Musk, who pledged to assist Trump in reducing public spending, criticized USAID, calling it a "criminal organization." "USAID is a bunch of worms. There are no apples. And when there are no apples, you just have to get rid of it all. That's why it needs to be eliminated. It can't be fixed," Musk wrote on X.
USAID, an autonomous government agency with more than 60 years of service and around 10,000 employees, was allocated a budget of $50 billion in 2023. The agency's dismantling has significant implications for independent media and NGOs in Cuba that relied on its funding to advocate for democracy and human rights on the island.
Challenges in Aligning with U.S. Interests
According to reports from EFE, Rubio criticized USAID for its endemic refusal to align its projects with U.S. foreign policy interests, accusing its employees of "insubordination." "Every dollar we spend, every program we fund should align with the U.S. national interest, and USAID has a history of ignoring that and acting as if it's a global charity separate from national interest," he claimed.
"If you go from mission to mission and embassy to embassy around the world, you'll often find that in many cases, USAID is involved in programs that counter what we are trying to achieve in our national strategy," Rubio added.
Understanding the Impact of USAID Changes
Why was USAID dismantled under the Trump administration?
The Trump administration dismantled USAID to align foreign aid with U.S. national interests and to stop what they perceived as poor international deals.
What are the effects of USAID's dismantling on Cuba?
The dismantling of USAID affects independent media and NGOs in Cuba that relied on its funding to promote democracy and human rights.
Who is the interim director of USAID?
Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, has assumed the role of interim director of USAID.