‘If you feel like USAID needs to go away, you need to do your homework': Rally hosted outside US Capitol as Trump administration aims to dismantle USAID

Yahoo

06-02-2025

WASHINGTON () — Hundreds of supporters and workers for the US Agency of International Development (USAID) rallied outside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, demanding the agency be left alone.
This comes after became the latest target of the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
'I know what is happening, especially with Elon Musk, is unconstitutional and illegal,' said Andrea Brown, who traveled to Washington, D.C. from Florida to be at the rally. 'Shutting down USAID is shutting down millions of lives around the globe. We're asking Congress to start doing their job.'
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Musk has criticized the work of USAID, which provides humanitarian relief internationally. Some of its work includes preventing starvation, poverty and epidemics in foreign countries.
Over the last week, funding has been frozen for the agency. Meanwhile, workers and lawmakers have been barred from the D.C. office and high-level agency leaders have been placed on administrative leave.
Currently, the agency's reads, 'All USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).'
The move is unconscionable for Brown.
'USAID is preventing diseases like Ebola from arriving here in America. So if you feel like USAID needs to go away, you need to do your homework,' she said.
'It's a shame people don't see the value that an organization like USAID brings to the world and brings to America,' added Peter Vaz, who works as a contractor for USAID.
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He's worked on projects including democracy and governance in various countries.
'I truly believe in the work USAID does as an organization,' he said. 'In terms of saving lives, in terms of spreading the democratic values throughout the world, in terms of helping make America safer, stronger, prosperous.'
Vaz said he will be furloughed come Monday.
'Just shock, horror, dismay, disappointment at the party of Congress and their disdain for the rule of law,' he said.
At the rally, Democratic lawmakers vowed to take legal action to stop the dismantling of the agency and other efforts by the Trump administration.
'This is about taking back our country and doing it now,' said Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen. 'Make no mistake about it, Elon Musk's effort to dismantle USAID is a gift to China, a gift to Russia, a gift to our adversaries around the world.'
President Donald Trump and his administration maintained that he does have the authority to dismantle the agency. And, that it is necessary.
'USAID is involved in programs that run counter to what we are trying to do in our national strategy,' said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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