Carmen Paun, Politico “It’s been astonishing to watch” USAID dismantled

Politico’s global health correspondent Carmen Paun offers her insights into the White House decision on March 13 to withdraw the nomination of David Weldon to be the next Director of CDC. CDC, while vulnerable, has not seemed to be a priority target of the Trump White House, though it is “not totally out of the woods” and is proceeding cautiously in Texas in response to the measles outbreak. There may be factors shaping the Trump White House decisionmaking that we do not yet see or understand. Carmen shares her reflections on how it is possible that USAID could be so swiftly annihilated. The foreign aid constituency is weak. “We are witnessing a whole new world.” “The initial reaction was paralysis and fear.” “We still do not know what will be left of USAID.” “New things arise from shocks and crises.” Carmen closes with the implications of the U.S. withdrawing from WHO.