To the editor:
President John F. Kennedy created the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1961 in order to help countries achieve self-sustaining economic growth, increase U.S. influence and counter the spread of communism with soft power—development and humanitarian aid versus military action.
Kennedy viewed it as a moral responsibility of the U.S. to enhance global progress. His vision was to shift to long-term development, separate development aid from military aid and make the agency field driven — implementing customized strategies driven by local needs and influencing countries to provide their own resources.
Kennedy believed soft power would win hearts and minds, enhance stability, create goodwill toward the U.S. and increase the number of free-market democracies — all goals in the best interest of the U.S. It was a plan to bend the world order toward U.S. values.
From 2001 to 2021, USAID-supported programs are estimated to have prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including about 30 million children under the age of 5.
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), started by President George W. Bush in 2003, is credited with saving more than 25 million lives. (USAID is a key implementer of PEPFAR programs.)
Lives were saved by eradicating smallpox, preventing diseases, decreasing malnutrition and maternal mortality and effectively fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and Ebola.
Life-saving food, water, vaccines, shelter and medical care were provided along with improved access to education.
Dismantling USAID is projected to result in more than 14 million additional deaths worldwide by 2030, including some 4.5 million children under 5 (roughly 700,000 extra child deaths per year).
At home the U.S. will feel the far-reaching economic ripple effects across many sectors of the economy. The loss in exported U.S. goods and services is estimated to be $23 billion annually and includes agricultural products, manufactured goods and technology and services previously purchased by or through USAID-funded programs.
Job losses across the U.S. have already been confirmed at almost 20,000 jobs, with projections of more than 200,000 jobs at risk.
Agriculture is one of the hardest-hit sectors with the sudden disappearance of USAID’s annual purchases of $2 billion in surplus crops.
In addition, U.S. universities have lost approximately $350 million in research funding, impacting hundreds of projects. Jobs will be lost and potential innovations delayed or made elsewhere.
Fully 19 Soybean Innovation Labs across 17 states have closed or are closing. Both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa have lost USAID funding.
When USAID was dismantled, more than 560,000 metric tons of food with an estimated value of $500 million to $600 million never made it to the millions of humans for which it was intended. It was destroyed, used as animal feed or left to rot.
Without USAID, instability will increase in other countries, leading to conflict, migration and potential terrorism — all threats to U.S. security. It weakens our diplomatic power and influence while the instability created may increase the flow of migrants to our southern border.
Nor will USAID be available to effectively control the spread of disease and prevent pandemics from reaching the U.S.
Keep in mind that while the ripple effects are devastating both at home and abroad, foreign assistance is a mere 1% of the federal budget, with USAID receiving about 60% of that 1% (sometimes less).
USAID advanced our interests around the world, enhanced our safety and benefited our economy.
How will our lost standing and credibility, lost new-market development, lost jobs and exports, delayed or never discovered innovations or lost ability to contain harmful diseases or famine be regained?
How will our lost souls and moral integrity be regained as we prioritize detention centers and cuts to food and healthcare for the most vulnerable in both the U.S. and in other countries — even when there are significant benefits to us when we provide such aid?
Which of the predictable threats and negative ripple effects will manifest first and with the most damage? Who will jump in to fill the soft-power void and exert influence in countries across the world — China?
Our president is proactively relinquishing America’s power and influence while damaging the U.S. economy and killing millions.
Laura Stebbins
Perry
