Why Trump Is Targeting Foreign Aid, with Atul Gawande
Feb 8, 2025
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Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon and former head of global health at USAID, discusses the alarming dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development by Trump and Musk. He highlights the dire consequences of cutting foreign aid and argues for the critical role of the agency in global health. Gawande reflects on the disconnect between elite expertise and populist sentiment, emphasizing the need for informed discourse in politics. He also explores the complex relationship between despair and hope in democracy, particularly in healthcare initiatives.
Atul Gawande highlights the critical role of USAID in global health efforts, despite its mischaracterization as ineffective by political figures.
The podcast emphasizes the public's disconnect regarding foreign aid's importance, contributing to growing skepticism and political attacks against it.
Deep dives
Targeting USAID: A Political Maneuver
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has come under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration and Elon Musk, who have labeled the agency a 'criminal organization.' This attack stems from a larger effort to discredit foreign aid efforts, with claims that USAID misappropriates funds, including supposedly spending millions on condoms for Gaza, which is factually incorrect. Atul Gawande, a former head of global health at USAID, emphasizes the agency's critical role in combating global health crises like HIV/AIDS and eradicating diseases such as smallpox and polio. The framing of USAID as ineffective neglects its history of positively impacting millions of lives and protecting Americans from international health threats, showcasing a significant disconnect between public perception and reality regarding foreign aid.
The Public's Misunderstanding of Foreign Aid
Public skepticism towards foreign aid, evidenced by polls showing that 56% oppose it, contributes to the ease with which figures like Trump and Musk can launch attacks against USAID. Many Americans possess an exaggerated belief about the scale and impact of foreign aid, leading to a lack of appreciation for its importance. Gawande discusses challenges in communicating the significance of foreign aid programs to the U.S. public, citing the agency's funding—which is substantial yet dwarfed by domestic health care expenditures. This disconnect ultimately puts vital life-saving initiatives at risk, as foreign aid remains largely invisible and poorly understood by the majority.
Navigating the Politics of Despair
Gawande argues that the current political climate reflects a broader 'politics of despair,' where many Americans feel overlooked and their needs unmet, contributing to public disillusionment. He highlights that creating policies that resonate with everyday people, even through ambitious programs aimed at improving health and reducing suffering, is essential to counteracting this despair. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, and providing hope for a better future, Gawande contends that the American government can re-establish its role as a force for good in both domestic and international contexts. Yet, despite recognizing the potential for change, he conveys significant concern about the direction American democracy is headed, indicating that the hope for recovery from this moment of crisis is still uncertain.
The Washington Roundtable is joined by Atul Gawande, the former head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to discuss Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s rapid-fire dismantling of the agency. They explore the life-and-death implications of the Trump Administration ending foreign aid, why the agency was targeted, and which federal agencies might be next.
To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send in feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com with “The Political Scene” in the subject line.
