Washington, D.C. – Representative Maggie Goodlander joined over 100 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing deep concerns about the recent destructive actions taken by the Trump Administration regarding the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In the letter, the lawmakers condemned the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine USAID’s independence, which has been crucial in promoting global stability and addressing the root causes of extremism. With reports of abrupt staffing changes, including putting senior leaders on administrative leave and the potential furlough of thousands of contractors, the letter emphasizes the dire implications for critical development programs.
The Members wrote, “Reports have surfaced that the Trump Administration has already taken steps to shut down USAID as an independent agency, without properly consulting Congress in advance and without seeking necessary statutory changes. Decisions including to stop work on all foreign assistance immediately without meaningful consultation with Congress and in contravention to the intent of appropriated funding, place senior leaders on administrative leave without cause, and furlough or fire thousands of contractors, have created a crisis that threatens our national security and undermines American credibility on the global stage.”
The Members continued, “Ending USAID will not only make Americans less safe, but it also compromises our ability to compete with rivals like Russia, China, and Iran.”
The letter emphasizes USAID’s crucial role in global crises, including emergency aid in Syria to counter ISIS and responding to a current Ebola outbreak in Africa. The lawmakers called for urgent action to maintain USAID’s integrity and ensure respect for Congressional authority.
You can read the full letter here.
