1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The dismantling of USAID will have devastating humanitarian consequences and undermine America's global standing. For over 60 years, USAID has been a vital force in addressing poverty, disease, food insecurity, and instability worldwide. Its programs save lives, promote development, and advance U.S. interests by fostering a more stable and prosperous world. The immediate freeze has already caused alarming disruptions - jeopardizing efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, provide emergency food aid, respond to natural disasters, and support democracy and governance initiatives globally. Crippling this agency will exacerbate crises, proliferate human suffering, and open vacuums for geopolitical rivals like China to fill. Moreover, dismantling USAID without lawful process or Congressional oversight is an assault on democratic norms. The agency's authorizing legislation and appropriations remain intact. I urge Congress to uphold its constitutional duties, intervene to protect this critical institution, and prevent a calamitous forfeiture of American leadership that will reverberate for decades. The human and strategic costs of allowing USAID's incapacitation are unacceptable.