Dozens of House Democrats denounced the Trump administration’s actions towards the U.S. Agency for International Development in a letter (USAID) sent Friday.
“The repercussions of these actions will be felt in the form of increased maternal and child mortality, reduced access to education, economic hardship, and heightened vulnerabilities to gender-based violence and exploitation of women,” the Democrats said in their letter, addressed to President Trump.
“At a time when women and girls are disproportionately affected by global conflicts, climate crises, and economic instability, continued programmatic and financial support in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Haiti, and Democratic Republic of Congo amongst many others are essential to combatting global health challenges,” they added.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally to Trump, recently pushed for the eradication of USAID, calling it “actually just a ball of worms.” The president has also tried to freeze the budget of the agency, but court injunctions have stopped that as well as plans from the administration to lay off employees numbering in the thousands.
“Despite long-standing bipartisan support for USAID initiatives that fight violence against women and girls, the proposed elimination of USAID and its funding would roll back years of progress across the globe and violate U.S. law,” the Democrats said.
The letter features signatures from Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Mark DeSauliner (D-Calif.), Mikie Sherill (D-N.J.), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).
“Countries in which USAID operates are experiencing turmoil, including violent organized crime, widespread corruption, and the growing displacement of women and families. USAID supports health, education, and governance programs to support women and girls around the world,” the Democrats said in their letter.
The Hill has reached out to USAID and the White House for comment.
