Brian Laird on WNYC, and now we turn to our health and climate story of the week,

which we do on Tuesdays with an international lens today, because since Saturday, as many of you know,

the Trump administration has been moving to dismantle USAID,

the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Here's 12 seconds of Trump speaking to reporters on Sunday.

It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics,

and we're getting them out.

USAID, run by radical lunatics, and we're getting them out, and then we'll make a decision.

The agency provides aid for numerous initiatives abroad under President Joe Biden.

The agency also worked to counter climate change globally and use those efforts as a way to

counter poverty and battle hunger. On Monday, USAID workers were blocked from entering the main office

in Washington, D.C. AP reports that two USAID security officials have also been put on leave for

denying access to confidential documents to workers of the

Department for Government Efficiency, Doge, that is Elon Musk's team, and some contractors who work

with USAID have had their contracts terminated.

Beyond that, the new freeze on almost all foreign aid through USAID is reportedly causing thousands of

layoffs at private not-for-profit aid agencies suspending health care, including HIV treatments,

vaccines, and more in the developing world as the new government here assessed as the programs

while they are suspended rather than as they are

continuing. So joining us now to explain what the agency does, who is being impacted and why

it's being targeted is Alyssa Miel N.A, reporter covering the USAID and U.S. government at DevX, an independent news

organization covering global development. Hi, Alyssa. Welcome to WNYC.

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