Hi Friend –

The new Administration promised to shake things up in Washington -- and shake things up they have. You may love it or hate it. I have heard both from members of our coalition. But when it comes to America’s commitments to international development, I am not only deeply troubled but frankly bewildered by the intensity and velocity of the dismantling of some of our most potent economic and national security programs.


As I listened to Secretary Rubio at his confirmation hearings, I thought he was spot on when he said our global investments should make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” and I welcomed his call for a review of our foreign assistance programs.

No one should argue against a smart and strategic review to ensure alignment with America’s national interests. But what’s baffling is that before any review had even been conducted or any meaningful consultation with Congress, the State Department put a freeze on all future and current foreign assistance programs – and are now putting nearly every USAID employee on administrative leave, or terminating them entirely, including recalling thousands of our public servants from around the globe.

I can understand surgical adjustments while the review is taking place, but why would we unilaterally take nearly our entire development and humanitarian team off the global playing field? Our rivals – China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – are playing to win, which is why we need an offense and defense strategy. In fact, top military leaders like former CENTCOM Commander and Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni worry that pulling back “diminishes U.S. strength around the world.”

USGLC has been clear: we should all support reformbut not retreat.

The weeks and months ahead will be critical as this debate and discussion continues. To get more information about how you can add your voice, reach out to me or my colleague Alex Grant ([email protected]).

Over the past week, many have shared stories with us of the national and economic security impact of the freeze and closure. I’ve shared just a sampling of the thousands I have heard below in this special edition of The Global Gab.

I hope you’ll continue to share your stories with me.

Best,
Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC


THE GLOBAL GAB – Special Edition Update on U.S. Foreign Assistance
February 6th, 2025


FOREIGN ASSISTANCE REVIEW. 
In the big stack of day-one executive orders by the new Administration, including withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, came one on “Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid” to launch a 90-day review of U.S. foreign assistance programs and directing agencies to assess aid effectiveness, strategic alignment, and impact on national interests.

STOP-WORK ORDER. Before the review had even begun, a freeze on all future programs and a stop-work order on active foreign assistance was announced days later. The sweeping directive did include limited waivers for foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt, emergency food assistance, administrative expenses, legitimate prior expenses, and other exceptions as approved by the Director of Foreign Assistance.

WAIVER ISSUES. Following bipartisan concern and countless stories of direct harm being done to America’s interests due to the freeze, additional waivers began to trickle out including for lifesaving humanitarian assistance, but with enormous confusion as implementing partners are still not receiving payments or clear guidance on specific programs.

USAID DISMANTLING. Without any formal Administration Executive Order, USAID was restructured under the State Department earlier this week, with Secretary Rubio becoming the Acting USAID Administrator, and empowering Peter Marocco as USAID’s Acting Deputy Administrator. On Tuesday, the entire USAID workforce received the dramatic announcement that at 11:59pm Friday evening “all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally” impacting thousands of staff in Washington and recalling personnel and their families stationed overseas within the month. Reports now indicate that the Administration could plan to keep less than 300 staff out of more than 10,000 world-wide.

BIPARTISAN LEADERS SPEAK OUT. While Democrats were quick to jump into the fray, plenty of Republican leaders have been pushing back behind closed doors and even in public – warning about the dangers to our national interests and undercutting Congressionally mandated and appropriated strategic development and diplomacy tools:

NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACT OF FREEZE. At a moment when America needs to demonstrate strength on the global stage, our development and diplomacy programs are precisely how this Administration can outcompete China, avoid costly wars, and strengthen our economy here at home. Dismantling this fraction in the overall federal budget risks undermining our own interests and ceding ground to America’s rivals:

Visit www.usglc.org for more information – and follow us on X or LinkedIn @USGLC for timely updates.


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