Hundreds of US Diplomats Join Letter to Rubio to Protest Dismantling of USAID
The letter signed by hundreds of diplomats at the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development strongly protests the dismantling of USAID, saying its demise would undermine U.S. leadership and security and create a power vacuum that China and Russia could exploit. The freeze on foreign aid also endangers American diplomats and forces overseas while putting at risk the lives of millions abroad that depend on U.S. assistance. The letter has been filed with the department's internal "dissent channel," where diplomats can raise concerns about policy anonymously.
- This mass outpouring of diplomatic opposition highlights the long-term consequences of dismantling critical institutions like USAID, which could ultimately erode the United States' global influence and national security.
- As China and Russia continue to fill the power vacuum created by USAID's demise, how will the Biden administration respond with a renewed focus on international development cooperation and diplomacy?