Founded in the 1960s to manage global development and assistance programs, USAID has played a crucial role in numerous crisis contexts, ensuring humanitarian interventions, medical support, and food security projects. Now, its existence is threatened by an administration that views international aid as a waste rather than a strategic investment.
The Ideological War Against Cooperation
According to the White House, USAID is inefficient and insufficiently aligned with American interests. In other words, humanitarian programs do not yield immediate benefits for the United States and should therefore be eliminated or scaled back. This shortsighted logic completely disregards the strategic value of international cooperation, reducing everything to a calculation of immediate gains.
It is therefore unsurprising that the government has decided to entrust businessmen and technocrats with redesigning public spending, with the declared goal of cutting any investment that does not generate direct profits. USAID is merely the latest victim of a policy of isolation and global disengagement, which is transforming the United States’ image from a world leader in cooperation into a nation turning inward.
The Human Cost of Washington’s Crackdown
The suspension of USAID’s activities has already had devastating consequences. Thousands of humanitarian projects have been halted, leaving entire communities without assistance. From refugee aid to vaccine distribution, from combating malnutrition to managing post-conflict emergencies, entire sectors of humanitarian intervention have been paralyzed by Washington’s decision.
Meanwhile, as the U.S. government scales back its engagement, other powers are stepping in. China, for instance, is rapidly filling the void left by the United States, expanding its influence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through financing and development projects. The withdrawal of USAID not only undermines global humanitarian efforts but also jeopardizes the United States’ geopolitical position.
A Direct Attack on Humanitarian Diplomacy
The forced integration of USAID into the State Department is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle—it is a direct attack on humanitarian diplomacy. International aid is not merely a tool of power; it is a moral and political commitment that ensures global stability and security. The attempt to reduce USAID to an appendage of U.S. foreign policy distorts its mission and compromises its effectiveness.
The American administration seems to ignore the fact that soft power based on cooperation has historically strengthened U.S. influence more than any military intervention. Reducing international aid to a mere bargaining tool means abandoning millions of people to their fate, empowering authoritarian regimes, and paving the way for new global crises.
The International Community at a Crossroads
The closure or restructuring of USAID will force thousands of non-governmental organizations to rethink their funding models. Many may not survive, while others will have to seek new partners among governments less inclined to uphold democratic principles and human rights. The domino effect of this decision will be devastating for the entire humanitarian sector.
America is relinquishing its leadership role in global solidarity, calling into question decades of humanitarian commitment. The future of USAID is more uncertain than ever—and with it, the future of millions of people who depend on international support. If this is the path Washington chooses to follow, the global community will have to find new ways to fill the void left by America’s political short-sightedness.
