By John Ogunsemore
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been thrust into the centre of a political storm as President Donald Trump and billionaire ally, Elon Musk advocate for its dissolution.
The agency, established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy to coordinate foreign aid and counter Soviet influence during the Cold War, is now accused of inefficiency and misalignment with “America First” policies.
Recent developments have seen the agency’s operations significantly disrupted, with reports indicating that senior officials have been placed on leave, thousands of contractors laid off, and a 90-day freeze on foreign aid has been implemented.
The agency’s website also went offline, and its account on the X platform disappeared, signalling a severe crackdown on its activities.
Musk, who leads the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump, has publicly labelled USAID as a “criminal organisation” on social media, stating it is “beyond repair” and should “die”. These statements have ignited a firestorm of debate over the future of one of America’s key instruments of soft power.
Amid the controversy generated, many netizens are left guessing why there is so much fuss about one agency.
Daily Sun brings to you 10 facts about USAID:
1. USAID was established on November 3, 1961, by President John F. Kennedy through an executive order, with the aim of countering Soviet influence during the Cold War and promoting US foreign policy objectives.
2. The agency’s mission is to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realise their potential, hence it focuses on economic growth, agriculture, trade, global health, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance.
3. USAID manages billions of dollars in aid; for instance, in fiscal year 2023, it had a budget of over $50 billion, including contributions to global health initiatives like PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).
4. USAID operates in more than 100 countries, working in diverse environments from post-conflict zones to stable democracies, with a significant presence in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
5. The agency employs around 10,000 people, with two-thirds of its staff working overseas. This includes both Foreign Service Officers and local staff in country missions.
6. USAID is a major player in global health, administering programmes like the Global Health Initiative, which focuses on combating diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, and improving maternal and child health.
7. USAID operates the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), which leads US government responses to international disasters, providing emergency relief, food aid, and helping with recovery efforts.
8. Through initiatives like the Development Innovation Ventures and the Global Development Lab, USAID encourages innovation and partnerships with the private sector to solve development challenges.
9. USAID has made gender equality a central part of its development agenda, with strategies aimed at empowering women and girls, reducing gender-based violence, and promoting equal access to education and economic opportunities.
10. USAID’s activities are often shaped by US legislative acts like the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which authorises many of its programmes. Additionally, specific programmes like PEPFAR and the Millennium Challenge Corporation are legislatively mandated with their own funding streams.