Restore USAID To Protect Lives And Constitutional Order

CONGRESS MUST PROTECT ITS CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY AND RESTORE THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) As a constituent, I urge you to restore USAID as a fully operational and independent agency. Congress holds constitutional authority over federal spending and the creation of statutory agencies. Money appropriated by Congress must be executed consistent with the laws Congress enacted. According to publicly available reports and Congressional Research Service materials, as of July 1, 2025, USAID ceased directly implementing many foreign assistance programs, and certain functions were transferred to the Department of State. Significant program reductions and workforce changes have been reported. These developments warrant careful Congressional review. CONGRESS CANNOT PERMIT A STATUTORY AGENCY TO BE EFFECTIVELY NULLIFIED WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE ACTION USAID was created and funded through statutes enacted by Congress. The Constitution assigns Congress authority over appropriations and the structure of federal agencies. Any substantial suspension, elimination, or restructuring of a statutory agency without new legislation raises serious constitutional concerns. Congress should clarify the agency’s legal status and operational authority. CONGRESS MUST REVERSE THE DISMANTLING OF A LIFE-SAVING AND STRATEGIC PROGRAM THAT COSTS ONLY ONE PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET Congressional Research Service data show that foreign assistance has averaged just over one percent of total federal spending in recent decades. In FY2024, USAID managed more than $35 billion in appropriated funds. For that limited share of the budget, these programs support global health, food security, economic stabilization, and pandemic prevention efforts that also serve U.S. national security interests by promoting regional stability and reducing conditions that contribute to conflict and migration pressures. CONGRESS MUST CONSIDER THE PROJECTED HUMAN IMPACT OF SUSTAINED FUNDING REDUCTIONS A peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet estimated that sustained and large-scale reductions in U.S. foreign assistance could contribute to more than 14,000,000 additional deaths by 2030. This estimate includes millions of children under five and is based on modeled reductions in vaccination coverage, HIV treatment, malaria prevention, maternal health care, and nutrition services. These figures are projections, but they are grounded in published research and historical program impact data. GAO PRECEDENT CONFIRMS THAT IMPROPER WITHHOLDING OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS CAN VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW In 2020, the Government Accountability Office concluded that withholding congressionally appropriated funds for policy reasons violated the Impoundment Control Act. Although that decision concerned Ukraine security assistance, it reaffirmed the principle that the executive branch must execute appropriations consistent with statutory requirements. Congress should determine whether any foreign assistance funds have been delayed, redirected, or withheld in ways inconsistent with federal law. CONGRESS MUST RESTORE USAID AND REQUIRE FULL TRANSPARENCY NOW Congress must: (1) Require detailed public reporting on amounts appropriated, obligated, and expended within all foreign assistance accounts. (2) Hold oversight hearings with State Department officials, USAID leadership, CRS analysts, GAO representatives, and the USAID Inspector General. (3) Direct GAO to review any funding delays, structural transfers, or administrative actions affecting USAID programs. (4) Clarify through legislation whether USAID’s structure or authorities may be altered without explicit Congressional approval. (5) Restore sufficient operational capacity to ensure lawful, transparent, and accountable execution of foreign assistance programs. Thank you.