With little oversight or accountability, the so-called Department for Government Efficiency is swinging a wrecking ball against much of the federal government. Its opening attack was on the U.S. Agency for International Development), one of our most potent soft power tools. Rather than trimming fat, DOGE’s slashing of USAID has cut deeply and dangerously into U.S. foreign policy muscle.
We have seen firsthand this powerful muscle at work. One of us served as U.S. ambassador to Japan during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, relying on USAID to support a critical ally in its darkest hour. The other spent a career leading USAID’s field operations around the globe. Today, as USAID faces an existential threat, we cannot stay silent.
Since its establishment in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID has embodied the best of America’s values, generosity and humanitarian spirit. Through 12 presidential administrations, USAID has been the U.S. front-line force for tackling global poverty, health and security challenges. With less than 1% of the federal budget, USAID has saved millions of lives, promoted peace, opened new markets for U.S. businesses and stopped deadly diseases from reaching our shores — making us safer, stronger and more prosperous.
When disasters strike, USAID leads the U.S. charge to respond. On March 11, 2011, when a catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis hit our critical ally Japan, our first call was to USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team. In mere hours, USAID’s DART, with experts and search and rescue specialists, was on the ground, coordinating the U.S. response and delivering lifesaving aid. Recognizing the unfolding nuclear threat, USAID also included top nuclear experts on the team — proving essential to our embassy, U.S. military forces, and to the Japanese people, whose gratitude for our support continues to this very day.
USAID’s importance extends far beyond disaster relief. Take the agency’s work in India — one of America’s most critical global partners. Supporting the Obama administration’s pivot to the Asia-Pacific, USAID transformed its relationship with India into a cutting-edge partnership, teaming our entrepreneurs, investment and innovation to expand development impact. Together, USAID and India have improved vaccine distribution, pandemic response and increased energy access and have also strengthened regional health security.
USAID and India also collaborate on sustainable agriculture programs across Africa and Asia, bolstering food security, nutrition and economic stability. This isn’t just aid that has a positive development impact — it’s smart diplomacy that strengthens our alliances and counters our adversaries.
All of USAID’s programs are approved and funded by Congress and aligned with U.S. foreign policy no matter which president is setting it. In Trump’s first term, for instance, USAID remained a foreign policy linchpin, focusing on mobilizing private sector investment and enhancing host-country self-reliance. USAID’s programs in Central America, for example, directly supported the administration’s priority of curbing migration by fostering economic growth and stability. In Guatemala alone, USAID’s programs helped create more than 250,000 jobs, catalyze $350 million in direct investment and improve education — providing significant incentives for Guatemalans to live and prosper in their home country.
Reforming foreign aid to adjust to the world’s fast-evolving challenges makes sense and would be welcomed. However, DOGE’s destruction of USAID isn’t “reform” in any sense — it’s reckless self-sabotage to our national security. The unelected and unaccountable cannot be allowed to strip the United States of one of its most vital strategic assets. We urge Congress and the courts to defend USAID and restore our foreign policy muscle now.
The authors worked together in the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo where John Roos served as U.S. ambassador to Japan and John Beed as his USAID counselor. Roos is the founder of Geodesic Capital and former CEO of Wilson Sonsini. Beed is a former senior foreign service officer and served as USAID mission director in India and Guatemala.