On Point | Podcast How ending foreign aid could damage U.S. national security
8 snips
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.
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Kennedy's Vision for USAID
- President Kennedy saw USAID as vital to US influence during the Cold War.
- He believed it helped nations develop without resorting to totalitarian control.
Trump Administration's Justification
- The Trump administration justifies dismantling USAID by alleging it's full of, quote, worms.
- They claim most employees donated to left-wing candidates, calling them radical left lunatics.
Impact on USAID Workers
- USAID staff in vulnerable locations, like Mogadishu, face communication challenges due to the shutdown.
- The agency's closure affects aid delivery, including crucial food supplies to conflict zones.