Latest news with #USAgencyofInternationalDevelopment
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
How US cuts to foreign aid are being felt across the world
The first months of Donald Trump's second presidential term have been hugely destabilising, with impacts felt across the globe. As part of his drastic cost cutting agenda the US has suspended much of its foreign aid and dismantled the US Agency of International Development. 7.30's Norman Hermant reports.
The National
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Trump names Marco Rubio as national security adviser and nominates Mike Waltz as UN ambassador
US President Donald Trump on Thursday named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim national security adviser, and also nominated Mike Waltz as ambassador to the UN. Mr Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform. 'From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role,' Mr Trump wrote in the social media post. He added that Mr Rubio will continue in his role as Secretary of State. 'Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN,' Mr Trump wrote. The news comes after US media outlets reported Mr Waltz, the current National Security Adviser, would be leaving his post. Mr Waltz came under scrutiny earlier this year after his office inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal chat in which high-level US officials discussed plans to strike Yemen's Houthi rebels. Mr Trump previously nominated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to the position, but her nomination was withdrawn as Republicans were concerned her leaving Congress, where the party has a tight majority, would put them in a vulnerable position. As both Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Mr Rubio will have a full plate. He is also the interim leader of the US Agency of International Development, which the Trump administration has cut down significantly amid a rethink over continuing foreign aid. 'This is a man who is very active, day to day, involved, knows what he wants to accomplish, things also sometimes change,' said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce of Mr Trump. 'I'm not going to guess at the decisions President Trump makes. What we do know is the results of those decisions."
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How Trump toppled his party's national security orthodoxy
President Donald Trump is bulldozing over generations of Republican national security orthodoxy. He canned the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown, who enjoyed broad GOP support, as well as several other top military officials. He's pulling closer to Russia on the world stage after Republican hawks last year labored to deliver Ukraine more money to fight Vladimir Putin. And he's toppled the US Agency of International Development, drawing back from decades-old bipartisan soft power strategies. His national security appointees largely share his noninterventionist worldview, leaving little internal counterweight to his moves. Perhaps what's most remarkable, though, is the lack of public tension between the party's hawks and its noninterventionist wing — the sort of ugly internal scuffles that marked Trump's first term. That's in part because Trump's remodeled GOP elected and elevated dozens of new, like-minded lawmakers. 'It's not isolationism. It's realism,' Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said of Trump's approach to national security. 'The party has changed. President Trump has changed the party in his own image.' The old-line hawks who remain in office aren't fully unwilling to push back against Trump's more pro-Russia instincts, and they're already urging him not to cut a deal with Putin that shortchanges Ukraine. They're also breaking with Trump over his false assertion that Ukraine started the war and are aiming to ensure his appointees cater to their views, too. But the shift Trump imposed upon his party is already in place; the White House acknowledged its policy decisions over the past month essentially finalizes the break from the establishment consensus forged during the George W. Bush administration. A White House official described the president's positions using the same 'realism' term used by Banks, arguing that Trump's approach is not to adhere to any outdated 'doctrine.' 'In dealing with the realities of what is actually going on, each conflict and each issue is completely different from each other,' the official said. Trump's focus on US interests first is meant to cause ripple effects throughout the world, a national security adviser added. 'It all falls in line with Trump's perspective, which is: There's no greater deterrent to chaos in the world than a strong America at home,' the NSC official told Semafor. A handful of Republicans are still questioning the firing of Brown and other top military officials. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said it was Trump's prerogative but 'I do not think, based on the merits, that the decision to fire them was warranted.' When it comes to ending the war in Ukraine, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said 'any scenario where Putin comes out feeling like he even tied — let alone won — I can't support.' Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said the Trump administration 'royally screwed up' by siding with Russia against a United Nations resolution marking its role in starting the war. But for the most part, after Congress supplied Ukraine with weapons for years, it's Trump's show now. 'I don't think a bill to send more money to Ukraine right now would pass,' said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. Kennedy added that Congress has little choice at this point but to be deferential. It's a stark change from eight years ago, when Trump at times drew the ire of GOP hawks like the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is no longer majority leader. Even the Senate Armed Services Committee is now stocked with Trump allies on national security. 'It's a pivot to realism,' said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., who went to Munich this month to tell European allies to step up. 'It's where I think the center of gravity is moving toward.' With the Cabinet largely confirmed, one of the most intriguing Trump nominees is Elbridge Colby, tapped as the Pentagon's No. 3. He's raised eyebrows in the party by arguing for less focus on the Middle East and more on China, a break from the long-term Republican focus on Iran. Yet Colby's trips to Capitol Hill may be helping him make headway. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she had a 'really great meeting with him' and that he's having positive visits with GOP senators. Approached in the Capitol complex Tuesday, Colby declined comment. Still, Colby may have to adjust some of his views to win confirmation, such as his skepticism of preserving the option to use force to stop Iran's nuclear program. Several high-profile Trump picks have made similar conversions on defense policy, like former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's embrace of surveillance programs that she previously criticized. 'These are not people who are anything but 'peace through strength,'' the NSC official said. That Colby may win over skeptical lawmakers by adjusting some of his personal beliefs, as Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did earlier this year, shows that unconventional Trump nominees now have a clear path to win confirmation. It's for a simple reason, if you ask the White House. 'Everyone has learned at this point, if you go up against Trump, you'll lose,' the White House official said. The Senate also will have to confirm Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as a replacement for Brown, who was confirmed overwhelmingly by the Senate in 2023. Though Democrats said Caine's ouster was leading to a more politicized military, Republicans mostly shrugged. 'I like [Brown] a lot, but Caine's a better fit,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. '[Trump] just trusts Caine.' Democrats are entering strange territory where many in their party are more conventionally hawkish than most Republicans. They do not seem to like it. 'We need people in both parties standing up to at least proclaim what's obvious — in this case, that Russia invaded Ukraine,' said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., referring to Trump's false claim that Ukraine started the war. Trump has made significant changes with only gentle pushback from Republicans on Capitol Hill. From bashing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to siding against the UN resolution on Ukraine to remaking the top military rungs, Trump appears to be gleefully thumbing his nose at old-school Republicans. He's at the peak of his power — on foreign policy as well as domestic issues — and he knows it. And in case you thought there might be big changes in the next GOP primary, remember that his potential successor, Vice President JD Vance, is cut from the same cloth. Trump advisrs have privately 'fumed' that the media is focusing so much on what they describe as Trump's 'misstatement' about who started the war between Russia and Ukraine, Axios reported.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘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
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.' Trump administration's actions spark protests across the DMV 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. Marco Rubio taking over as acting head of USAID amid agency turmoil 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans insist they could eventually restrain Trump and Musk
Aside from Matt Gaetz, the Republican Congress is showing very little interest in checking President Donald Trump's power right now. Over the past 24 hours, a handful of once-reluctant Republicans approved of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard's bids to join Trump's Cabinet. On top of the mild GOP complaints about the dismantling of the US Agency of International Development and freeze on government spending, free-trading Republicans who warned against a potential trade war with Canada and Mexico are giving Trump plenty of latitude in that area. With little threat of the GOP Congress stepping in to restrain it, Trump — and Elon Musk, empowered with significant authority to reshape the federal government — have staged a dizzying show of executive-branch dominance over the federal legislature. Trump's ability to wield power to start his second term has prompted increasingly loud charges from Democrats that Republicans are too afraid to stand up to him. It's a line that Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is likely to hear for two more years as he prepares for a reelection bid on the front lines of 2026's battle for the Senate. Tillis is throwing the charge right back at Democrats, accusing them of being pliant for former President Joe Biden. 'In the last Democratic administration, which [nominees] did they even raise a concern [about]? Zero. Like, zero. So it's disingenuous. It's the same old, tired playbook,' Tillis told Semafor when asked about the idea that he's rolling over for Trump. He contended that there will eventually be red lines that the Republican Congress won't permit Trump to cross, 'whether it's on nominees, or whether it's on policy. I can see things where Musk — he's coming up with good ideas — he could go too far. We could say, 'Great idea. It doesn't work in a public institution.'' It hasn't come to that yet. And Republicans are plainly sensitive to the idea that they are letting legislative power atrophy after charging Democrats with the same misdeed during the presidencies of Biden and Barack Obama. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., even spoke to Trump directly about Gabbard's nomination as director of national intelligence, but told reporters Trump wasn't trying to twist his arm. Young said Trump told him Gabbard's vote was 'important, but he said, 'You know what, Todd, we're going to work together on all kinds of other things to Make America Great Again.'' Republicans' attitudes may change if voters sour on Trump, but thus far the president has had wide latitude to remodel government. He's sparked frustration from moderate Republicans like Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins but little protest from party leaders. Still, Tillis isn't the only senior Republican to insist that they will not let Musk or the executive branch further infringe on Congress's vaunted power of the purse. 'We do have to really make sure that the spending and the appropriation and the power of the purse remains with the House and Senate,' said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, 'Any encroachment on that, I think we should, as a body, stand up and resist.' Republicans already concede they will likely need to push through legislation to finalize changes to USAID. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., told Semafor that Republicans are quietly critical of undercutting foreign aid development programs but 'are afraid to say it. They're afraid of retribution.' 'I'm surprised that so many people here who have supported foreign assistance programs now suddenly are willing to let them be cut off, to the detriment of security,' said Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. 'These are not like turning off a light switch that you can shut it down and start it again.' Gaetz's implosion last year led Democrats — and even some Republicans — to believe that Trump's crop of unconventional nominees could be forced into withdrawal or defeated. Yet the pugilistic president, his extremely online base and GOP leaders teamed up to advance every other nominee in that group. One of them, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is already confirmed; Gabbard and Kennedy are on the goal line to get there. Gaetz remains the only scuttled Trump Cabinet pick. Young plainly struggled with his vote on Gabbard. He required written assurances from her on the possibility of pardoning Edward Snowden and her views on US surveillance power before moving ahead. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a doctor, was open about his reservations about Kennedy's vaccine skepticism; he voted for Kennedy just as Trump mused online about vaccines' effect on autism. Tillis said he and Cassidy are both 'independent' and 'prepared to offer up our concerns' about nominees. He warned that Kennedy would 'regret it' if he took major steps against vaccines. Both Cassidy and Young credited Vice President JD Vance with helping them get answers from nominees. And both have crossed Trump in the past — Young declined to endorse him last year, and Cassidy voted to convict him in the 2021 impeachment trial. Still, one ally of Trump and Kennedy said Cassidy was always seen within the administration as a yes in the end. It remains to be seen whether Trump will support Cassidy in 2026, or at least stay neutral. The Senate minority leader told Semafor in a recent interview that he thinks Republicans will eventually be more comfortable working with Democrats on things that Trump may not totally love. 'It's going to take a little while. Because right now they're all afraid of Trump. Trump is going to have less power and less clout six months from now because of screwups like the OMB one,' Schumer said, referring to a blunt budget freeze that the administration revoked last week. Trump's power on Capitol Hill is stronger than it was in 2017, and he's using every bit of that extra clout. Many of his Republican skeptics are no longer in Congress, and longtime GOP lawmakers see little upside to battling with him at this early date. The biggest early question mark is Musk: If he starts targeting popular government programs, he'll likely face pushback from the GOP. But his initial forays have provoked little response from Republicans so far. Tillis started out as a 'no' on Hegseth and only flipped to yes after an intense lobbying campaign by Trump allies, the Wall Street Journal reported. Read Gabbard's to Young recounting her promises to him, obtained by Semafor.
