9. Agency For International Development (Summary)

Author: Max Primorac

Summary

• Mission: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) leads international development and disaster assistance programs to help communities advance their own development. Its work aligns with U.S. national security interests, promoting American prosperity, expanding markets, encouraging innovation, and supporting stable, resilient, and democratic societies.
• Overview: Established in 1961 during the Cold War, USAID aimed to combat the spread of Communism by assisting developing countries. Over the years, USAID’s activities expanded significantly, but the agency faced issues such as bureaucratic inertia and wasteful spending. The Trump Administration restructured USAID to promote self-reliance and introduced conservative reforms, while the Biden Administration shifted the agency’s focus toward a divisive political and cultural agenda.
• Key Issues:
  • Aligning U.S. Foreign Aid to U.S. Foreign Policy: Advocates for centralizing U.S. foreign aid under the USAID Administrator to ensure alignment with U.S. foreign policy.
  • Countering China’s Development Challenge: Emphasizes the need for USAID to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to restore the counter-China infrastructure dismantled by the Biden Administration.
  • Climate Change: Criticizes the Biden Administration’s climate policies, arguing that they harm global food security and worsen poverty. Advocates for the cessation of climate extremism in foreign aid.
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Agenda: Calls for dismantling USAID’s DEI infrastructure, arguing that it creates a hostile work environment and undermines merit-based professional advancement.
  • Refocusing Gender Equality on Women, Children, and Families: Urges a shift away from gender radicalism and abortion promotion toward protecting women, children, and families.
  • Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance: Recommends reinstating pro-life policies in foreign aid and closing loopholes that allow funding for the global abortion industry.
  • International Religious Freedom: Advocates for integrating religious freedom into all USAID programs and strengthening support for persecuted religious minorities.
  • Streamlining Procurement and Localizing the Partner Base: Emphasizes the need to reform USAID’s procurement processes and increase partnerships with local and faith-based organizations.
  • Global Health: Calls for a comprehensive update to USAID’s global health initiatives, focusing on women, children, and families, and increasing collaboration with faith-based organizations.
  • Global Humanitarian Assistance: Recommends reducing and repurposing humanitarian aid to ensure it serves its original purpose of providing short-term relief and preventing harm.
  • Leveraging Foreign Aid to Unleash the Power of America’s Private Sector: Encourages the use of private-sector solutions to promote economic development and end the need for future foreign aid.
  • Branding: Urges USAID to fully credit the American people for the aid they provide and ensure the visibility of U.S. assistance.

Analysis

• Centralizing Foreign Aid: Implementing a centralized role for the USAID Administrator as the Director of Foreign Assistance could lead to more cohesive and strategically aligned foreign aid efforts. However, it could also result in power concentration that might reduce checks and balances.
• Countering China: Restoring USAID’s counter-China operations would be a strong stance against China’s global influence, potentially improving U.S. strategic relationships in developing countries. However, it might escalate tensions with China and require substantial resources.
• Climate Policy Shift: Rolling back climate-focused initiatives in favor of traditional energy support could bolster short-term economic stability in developing nations but may undermine global climate goals and long-term environmental sustainability.
• DEI Reforms: Dismantling the DEI infrastructure at USAID could lead to a backlash from progressive groups and international partners, potentially isolating the U.S. on global diversity and inclusion issues.
• Pro-Life Foreign Policy: Reinstating and expanding pro-life policies in foreign aid would align with conservative values but might generate significant opposition from international organizations and countries that support reproductive rights.

Tags

• U.S. Foreign Policy
• China Development Strategy
• Climate Policy
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Global Health Initiatives

Read the original chapter text here: https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf#page=286

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