I worked on just a couple of USAID funded projects, both in Timor Leste/East Timor, back in the late 90’s. They made a real difference to the future of the country and I’m proud of what we achieved and of the Timorese students who took what was offered and made their absolute best of the opportunity provided to them. We /they achieved a lot on a very small budget. My heart goes out to all of you losing your jobs now, and especially the local partners who are now facing a more challenging future. I wish everyone a large helping of good luck.
It’s hard to express how ridiculous, harmful And penny wise, pound foolish this decision is. Just because Musk held a grudge against USAID and Trump believes any effort that doesn’t help or pay him directly is somehow a scam.
The self-centered nepotism-baby doesn’t get it; that trying to help someone else is its own reward. And the “soft power” dynamic is often the most effective form of enduring diplomacy.
Will USAID return in some other form? Hard to say. Under a Democrat-run government, maybe. But in a year or two, the links broken between host country and USAID programs remain tenuous at best.
The momentum of such projects is often shaky and even in good times short interruptions can affect long-term stability and hence education, health and lives.
So Musk is gone, and with him the drug-fueled mania that dismembered USAID well, like a chainsaw.
Once sanity prevails, if it does, and programs begin to reconstitute, how long will it take, and will our international partners ever trust us again?
And what of the tens or hundreds of thousands of those unserved, awaiting food, medicine and other relief?
They can’t wait two to four years. For many it’s already too late.
Is there no hope for us do you think? I still don’t understand why USIP was successful in the courts but we were not (I know different judges, etc). Also, I know a lot depends on the budget bill, but if state receives even limited foreign assistance funds won’t they need to program it?
I’m not ready for a funeral for USAID— not yet. It’s been two decades since I worked with USAID, and I had truly wonderful, productive experiences. I know that the people who worked at USAID are dedicated and talented professionals who have accomplished so much through the years. Perhaps they could rise from the ashes and build a new nonprofit NGO dedicated to international development, find a home at some academic institution, and get operational funding support from major foundations, foreign governments, and nonprofits.
We MUST check daily to see if we have been PURGED!!!!
WATCH THIS!! THE LINK IS BELOW!! They are already doing this again for 2026!!!
303,570 views Oct 18, 2024
By August 2024, 40,000 self-proclaimed vigilante vote-fraud hunters had already challenged the rights of 852,381 voters — with a target of 2 million before the election. Did the voters decide the 2024 election, or voter suppression? Watch Greg Palast's award-winning documentary — narrated by Rosario Dawson and introduced by Martin Sheen — and decide for yourself.
If USAID had genuinely built sustainability into their programming systems we wouldnt have to see this day. I just agree that i have to laugh and cry to see such drastic measure which sure is draconian. Just hoping for the best is all we can do now as do our beneficiaries for whom AID created dependence and then pulled the plug on them whether its their staff or their direct beneficiaries.
I hold great respect for each one of you I wish I could fund your essential agency! Those of us who think about the world—know about doing direct care service to people who’ve not had any help in their lives and who desperately need it. You will miss the community of people working to help people—move beyond the grinding pain of life. All of you working together have shown every person you touched that there is concern for them. Each of you have made personal strides in your lives both professionally and personally you may need time to grieve mightily prior to feeling much beyond the grief your own and the friends made doing such essential work! Thank you, may all of you find peace and happiness and great jobs, soon.
It feels like a death in the family.😭
I worked on just a couple of USAID funded projects, both in Timor Leste/East Timor, back in the late 90’s. They made a real difference to the future of the country and I’m proud of what we achieved and of the Timorese students who took what was offered and made their absolute best of the opportunity provided to them. We /they achieved a lot on a very small budget. My heart goes out to all of you losing your jobs now, and especially the local partners who are now facing a more challenging future. I wish everyone a large helping of good luck.
Thank you for doing the good work. It really Does/Did matter to most of us.
It’s hard to express how ridiculous, harmful And penny wise, pound foolish this decision is. Just because Musk held a grudge against USAID and Trump believes any effort that doesn’t help or pay him directly is somehow a scam.
The self-centered nepotism-baby doesn’t get it; that trying to help someone else is its own reward. And the “soft power” dynamic is often the most effective form of enduring diplomacy.
Will USAID return in some other form? Hard to say. Under a Democrat-run government, maybe. But in a year or two, the links broken between host country and USAID programs remain tenuous at best.
The momentum of such projects is often shaky and even in good times short interruptions can affect long-term stability and hence education, health and lives.
So Musk is gone, and with him the drug-fueled mania that dismembered USAID well, like a chainsaw.
Once sanity prevails, if it does, and programs begin to reconstitute, how long will it take, and will our international partners ever trust us again?
And what of the tens or hundreds of thousands of those unserved, awaiting food, medicine and other relief?
They can’t wait two to four years. For many it’s already too late.
Beautiful and tragically comic. Time to both laugh and cry!
Is there no hope for us do you think? I still don’t understand why USIP was successful in the courts but we were not (I know different judges, etc). Also, I know a lot depends on the budget bill, but if state receives even limited foreign assistance funds won’t they need to program it?
Thank you for all the good that you did. It was appreciated by many people
I’m not ready for a funeral for USAID— not yet. It’s been two decades since I worked with USAID, and I had truly wonderful, productive experiences. I know that the people who worked at USAID are dedicated and talented professionals who have accomplished so much through the years. Perhaps they could rise from the ashes and build a new nonprofit NGO dedicated to international development, find a home at some academic institution, and get operational funding support from major foundations, foreign governments, and nonprofits.
We MUST check daily to see if we have been PURGED!!!!
WATCH THIS!! THE LINK IS BELOW!! They are already doing this again for 2026!!!
303,570 views Oct 18, 2024
By August 2024, 40,000 self-proclaimed vigilante vote-fraud hunters had already challenged the rights of 852,381 voters — with a target of 2 million before the election. Did the voters decide the 2024 election, or voter suppression? Watch Greg Palast's award-winning documentary — narrated by Rosario Dawson and introduced by Martin Sheen — and decide for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_XdtAQXnGE
If USAID had genuinely built sustainability into their programming systems we wouldnt have to see this day. I just agree that i have to laugh and cry to see such drastic measure which sure is draconian. Just hoping for the best is all we can do now as do our beneficiaries for whom AID created dependence and then pulled the plug on them whether its their staff or their direct beneficiaries.
I hold great respect for each one of you I wish I could fund your essential agency! Those of us who think about the world—know about doing direct care service to people who’ve not had any help in their lives and who desperately need it. You will miss the community of people working to help people—move beyond the grinding pain of life. All of you working together have shown every person you touched that there is concern for them. Each of you have made personal strides in your lives both professionally and personally you may need time to grieve mightily prior to feeling much beyond the grief your own and the friends made doing such essential work! Thank you, may all of you find peace and happiness and great jobs, soon.