On Point | Podcast
How ending foreign aid could damage U.S. national security
Feb 5, 2025
Jonathan Geyer, a foreign policy reporter, discusses the historical significance of USAID in national security. Atul Gawande, a global health expert, emphasizes how cuts could threaten public health initiatives and empower adversaries like China. Alex Papakristou, an international law specialist, highlights the constitutional implications of halting foreign aid, stressing its role in American diplomacy. Together, they argue that dismantling USAID risks not only humanitarian efforts worldwide but also undermining U.S. influence and security on the global stage.
46:53
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Quick takeaways
- The dismantling of USAID jeopardizes global health initiatives, risking the resurgence of diseases and consequently threatening U.S. national security.
- Eliminating USAID undermines the U.S. soft power strategy, diminishing American influence and potentially empowering adversarial nations in unstable regions.
Deep dives
Impact of USAID's Dismantling on Global Health
The dismantling of the USAID agency is likely to have catastrophic effects on global health initiatives, particularly in preventing and controlling disease outbreaks. During its operational years, USAID played a critical role in responding to serious health crises, including epidemic management across multiple countries. The abrupt cessation of its operations will leave vulnerable populations, such as those facing tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and potential new outbreaks, without access to essential medical support and treatment. This situation threatens not only the health of millions globally but ultimately jeopardizes American national security by increasing the risk of disease spread that could reach U.S. shores.
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