Former USAID official on agency merger, funding cutbacks: “It’s not an overhaul. It’s a destruction”
Former Dr. Atul Gawande, the former US International Development Agency Global Health Director, criticized the Trump administration Plan merger The US international development agencies entered the State Department and frozen funds for the dangerous aid plan, saying that these decisions were not “big cultivation”, but “destruction”.
Gawande, a professor of surgeon and a professor of medicine, told CBS News on Monday that “Destruction” started after the White House Management and Budget Office a week ago Published a memorandum It ordered Federal Aid. Memorandum is go back A few days later, the frozen order of order has already been Stopped by the federal courtBut some programs seem to be in trouble.
“You are talking about 20 million people Global HIV PlanTerrace said that this reduced HIV from all over the world, and they did not make them alive. “You are talking about the outbreak of the disease that has not stopped, Like bird fluClose monitoring in 40 countries/regions. “
“Caused a lot of damage,” the change of the independent status is just a nail in the coffin, and the clearance may destroy the agency. ”
Gawande countered President Trump, Elon Musk (Elon Musk) billionaireBoth criticized the agency’s comments recently to Mr. Trump that the US International Development Agency “operated by a bunch of radical lunatic.”
“We are talking about rescue workers. We are talking about health workers and Americans from all over the world.”
It is expected that the Trump administration will announce the details of the interruption in the next few days US International Development AgencyA 60 -year -old organization provides humanitarian assistance to more than 100 countries. The agency provides humanitarian assistance abroad, especially countries to recover and avoid poverty in disaster. The Congress Research Bureau said that in the 2023 fiscal year, the US International Development Agency managed more than $ 40 billion in funding, which was not 1 % of the federal budget.
Mr. Trump vowed to reduce the scale of the federal government. The US International Development Agency was the latest goal of him and Musk. His task was created by the leadership Government efficiency departmentEssence However, legislators warn that any trials of changing the structure and funds of the US International Development Agency will require Congress behavior.
Gang Wande said that the country’s “derogation” of the agency is “dangerous”, saying that this is the country’s “the largest civilian action ability to promote foreign work.”
“We are talking about world -class professional knowledge. For example, malaria plan. Two -thirds have been fired, and the event closes one of the global experts including our malaria. How can this make us more safer? Make us stronger.
“Every government has undergone a lot of cultivation, saying that they want to change the policy and they want to change some directions, but you will not weaken and demolish the institution in the process.” people.”
