In reaction to reports that President Trump is moving to dismantle USAID as its website has gone down, Oxfam America President & CEO Abby Maxman, said:
“Dismantling USAID would be a callous, destructive political power play that would have deadly consequences for millions of people living in dire humanitarian emergencies and extreme poverty. Any attempt by President Trump to dissolve or merge USAID with the State Department would be legally dubious and must be swiftly challenged in court.
"This move would mean that while US foreign assistance could continue in some form, President Trump would be recklessly throwing away USAID’s critical experience and strategic focus on saving lives, building resilient communities, and forging a better collective future. If reports prove true, we would expect to see less impact and less accountability to the American people. It would be cruel, intentionally harmful and directly at odds with US interests.
“USAID was established in 1961 as an independent agency to advance US foreign policy and American values – to foster prosperity and save lives around the globe. It has brought lifesaving medicines, food, clean water, assistance for farmers, kept women and girls safe, promoted peace, and so much more over decades, all for less than one percent of our federal budget. Ending USAID as we know it would undo hard-earned gains in the fight against poverty and humanitarian crisis, and cause long-term, irreparable harm. Now, Congress must take a stand against this destructive and unlawful action.
"Over the past week, we have already witnessed the life-threatening, wide-ranging impacts of a temporary disruption to US foreign assistance. This action would expand those disruptions exponentially by punishing the people who are already suffering the most, undermining US credibility and interests, and halting decades of progress toward a safer, more equal world."
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