A former lead official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has described its closure as an “extinction-level event” for the global aid sector. The warning comes after President Donald Trump announced a freeze on $50 billion in foreign aid, including funding to USAID.
John Konyndyk, who currently leads the humanitarian organization Refugees International, warned that the move would create a “vacuum” that rivals and adversaries of the US would be quick to fill. He argued that the elimination of a key component of American soft power, which had provided significant support for health, disaster relief, and human rights initiatives around the world, would embolden authoritarian regimes such as Russia.
Konyndyk pointed out that the Trump administration’s move was not about cost-cutting, but rather an attempt to “caricature” and “demonize” a crucial part of US foreign policy. He said the playbook used by the Trump administration would set a worrying precedent for undermining independent federal agencies without congressional oversight.
The loss of funding from USAID has sparked concerns that many organizations reliant on it will struggle to continue their work, exacerbating global instability and humanitarian crises. Konyndyk described the potential consequences as an “extinction-level event” for the global aid sector, potentially destabilizing the budgets of major relief and development organizations around the world.
The move is seen as a significant blow to US efforts to promote democracy, human rights, and sustainable development abroad. As Russia’s President Vladimir Putin expressed support for the Trump administration’s decision, Konyndyk warned that this would embolden Beijing and other adversaries to pursue their own interests at America’s expense.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-usaid-official-calls-closure-extinction-level-event/story?id=118422085