President Trump’s command to end the United States Government’s Aid for International Development, executed by non-governmental staff Elon Musk, is both illegal and immoral. It is not within the jurisdiction of the President to unilaterally end government agencies without Congressional consent.

As a private businessman, Musk lacks understanding of the rights and benefits of governmental employees. He and Trump have ignored the additional difficulties USAID staff will face in being abruptly terminated overseas away from U.S. support systems.

Repercussions from suspended USAID development projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia will be felt for generations. USAID has been the first and largest U.S. Government presence for relief from natural disasters overseas of flood, cyclone, climate change, drought, and the destructive results of conflict. The immediate and seemingly impulsive decisions to end USAID by Trump and Musk have been catastrophic on nations and their people who depend upon lifesaving treatment with no advance warning, and on U.S. relations with each nation served.

Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans who have created and empowered USAID through legislation are now doing nothing to oppose the President’s battleaxe cuts to their legislated U.S. government aid to foreign allies. Besides a disgraceful disregard for the harm to vulnerable populations, a greatly reduced U.S. government assistance presence overseas directly shrinks U.S. world power and influence, and opens the door for China and Russia.

BEN HOSKINS

Lewisburg

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom