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1A

Donald Trump And Elon Musk Are Targeting USAID

1A

NPR

News

4.44.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 February 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

USAID workers worldwide were pulled off the job Tuesday as President Donald Trump's administration posted notices online and sent emails telling employees that the government's spending overseas is now considered a waste and that they have 30 days to return home.

These workers have also been placed on leave effective midnight Friday. The organization's website was recently taken offline. What happens next?

We discuss what these moves mean for the future of America's international relationships and the potential consequences for people around the world who relied on this work and funding.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, I'm Johnny O'Hanson, Jr. join me each week on In Black America as we profile current

0:06.3

and historically significant figures whose stories help illuminate life in Black America.

0:11.4

You don't want to miss the conversation. KUT Radio in Black America are members of the NPR Network.

0:17.6

Thanks for listening to In Black America.

0:20.1

Hi, it's Jen. Just a quick reminder before we start the show. The news is rapidly changing

0:24.8

and things may be different by the time you listen to this episode. Stay up to date with all

0:28.6

the latest by listening to your local NPR member station and visiting npr.org. Thanks for listening.

0:48.7

It's been a week of chaos at USAID, the country's main agency for providing billions of dollars in international aid. A broad workstop order from the U.S. State Department halted

0:53.7

the agency's funding for USA.S. AID programs

0:56.5

that caused NGOs and other partners to furlough or lay off their employees, including workers in the U.S.

1:03.3

Employees and workers are isolated and they've lost access to internal agency systems.

1:08.3

Now the State Department says it will evacuate thousands of workers and their families

1:12.4

back to the U.S. within 30 days. We've heard from many of you about your concerns with the

1:17.5

administration dismantling USAID. Up until last week, I was a senior nutrition advisor at USAID,

1:25.0

identifying and treating malnourished children. Hi, I worked in a development agency

1:29.1

that was funded by USAID in Malawi. A lot of our work centered on maternal child health.

1:35.1

Cutting these programs means people will die. A lot of people will die that otherwise wouldn't have

1:38.9

had access to any of these services. It's sad and it's going to cost human lives for no good reason.

1:46.6

I was a Peace Corps volunteer in the early 80s in Honduras, and I was able to obtain funds from

1:54.8

USAID to build a bridge into a small community I lived in that was cut off by flooding every

2:00.8

year.

2:01.1

We were seeing some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and village community

...

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