The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The End of USAID, with Nicholas Kristof
Jul 17, 2025
Nicholas Kristof, a renowned New York Times opinion columnist and humanitarian reporter, discusses the drastic cuts to USAID under the Trump administration. He highlights the grim consequences of slashing foreign assistance, especially in maternal healthcare, and paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in Africa. Kristof also emphasizes how these funding cuts endanger U.S. national security and amplify China's influence in these regions. With personal anecdotes from his reporting trips, he underscores the vital role of foreign aid in fostering global trust and health security.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
USAID's Proven Life-Saving Role
- USAID saves more lives annually than any other U.S. agency with a modest budget.
- Its work has driven major global health and development improvements over decades.
Dismantling USAID Causes Waste
- Dismantling USAID led to monumental increases in waste and abuse of aid resources.
- Aid was left unused in warehouses while children died, proving costly and tragic.
Child Deaths From Aid Freeze
- In South Sudan, kids died after ARVs were cut off due to aid freezes.
- A five-year-old AIDS orphan died from pneumonia when social workers were fired and support vanished.