Congress: Restore USAID, Save Lives, Restore Global Stability

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge the rebuilding of US AID and its invaluable humanitarian work both in feeding people, and maintaining the peace in many troubled areas of the world. The venal Trump Administration, and the cowardly Republicans in office, have reduced our nation to a bystander over genocides happening in Gaza. It’s clear that US AID was an impediment to Netanyahu’s war, and its loss is now being felt everywhere. The human sacrifice will continue to go beyond the horror of the starving faces of children if US AID is not restored. That’s a crime all on its own, and Elon Musk, Trump, and Marco Rubio are liable, as well as others in this Administration. Food and development funding is preventive security. Since its inception, USAID had constituted an important part of what’s known as ‘soft power’, strengthening US influence through humanitarian aid, economic partnerships and institutional development. By fostering goodwill, the agency bolstered diplomatic relationships, promoted political and economic models favorable to US interests, and worked to mitigate instability in many countries. Without it, we’re just storing up crisis after crisis: 1. Supporting a poor country’s health system prevents a disruptive pandemic. 2. Staving off government collapse prevents a failed state exporting crime and violence. 3. Helping countries adapt to climate change avoids migration crises.   The triple health, crime and violence, and migration crises can be prevented. It is for this reason we urge you, in the strongest possible terms to restore USAID as soon as practicable. Congress can force the Cabinet to do this. This global instability can be stopped. Otherwise, what are we as a nation? A reflection of the most vile group of people ever to govern this country. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter of global stability.