The Take What’s behind Trump’s war on USAID?
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Feb 5, 2025 Anuradha Mittal, the Executive Director of the Oakland Institute, dives into the drastic shifts facing USAID under the Trump administration. She discusses the agency's pivotal role in global health and its ethical dilemmas amid budget cuts. Mittal highlights the severe consequences that dismantling USAID could have on vulnerable populations reliant on U.S. aid. The dialogue also touches on USAID's complex relationship with U.S. foreign policy and the urgent need for reform to maintain its influence in the geopolitical landscape.
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USAID's Impact
- USAID played a key role in eradicating smallpox and distributing COVID vaccines.
- It also supports sanitation, clean water programs, and aid for displaced people due to war.
Impact of Aid Removal
- Removing aid in conflict zones like DRC, amidst Ebola outbreaks, creates global health risks.
- It leaves vulnerable populations without crucial support and threatens US global standing.
Impact of Dismantling USAID
- Dismantling USAID impacts vulnerable populations globally and harms US soft power.
- Calling USAID workers "lunatics" is dangerous, given their dedicated service.