CONFLICTED Trump vs USAID: The Rise and Fall of America’s Aid Empire
Jan 20, 2026
This discussion dives deep into the unexpected dismantling of USAID, sparked by Trump’s executive order. The hosts explore USAID's historical ties to anti-communism and its collaboration with the CIA during the War on Terror. They reveal the organization's evolution, from humanitarian roots to modern challenges and corruption issues. The conversation also highlights the reactions to rights-based humanitarianism and the implications of new global players like China and Gulf states reshaping aid dynamics, questioning the future of American influence.
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USAID Merged Into State Control
- Trump folded USAID into the State Department via Executive Order 14169, pausing most development assistance for review.
- Around 85% of USAID programs were canceled and staff were laid off or furloughed.
Origin: Modernization And Anti‑Communism
- USAID began in 1961 to implement modernization theory and counter communism by strengthening state institutions.
- Policy assumed economic growth would reduce revolutionary movements and align states with the U.S.
OPS: When Aid Trained Police
- Between 1962 and 1974 USAID housed the Office of Public Safety (OPS) which trained foreign police forces.
- OPS programs aligned with CIA objectives and were later abolished amid scandal in 1974.