Closing USAID

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a reminder to the idiots supporting Musk. There are thousands of American citizens deployed as USAID workers and contractors in developing countries around the world who are now cut off from all headquarters, financial, and logistical support from the government. Anyone cheering this on is a deplorable sociopath.

Why couldn't they get support from the US mission in country like any other fed?

They aren’t tourists who lost their passports. They are dedicated public servants working on important projects. Something sociopath tech bros on ketamine can’t understand or relate to.

The Chief of Mission is responsible for federal employees in their area of responsibility under the Foreign Affairs Act. This isn't about tourists or the importance of someone's work. *All* feds fall under the authority of the CoM in country, and the CoM is responsible for them. They don't need USAID HQ to get support.

[Anonymous]

It's wild that some of the posters here actually believe all of the hilariously over-the-top claims being made about USAID funding. No, they aren't funding "Drag Hour for Amputee Dwarves with Epilepsy in Khazakhstan" or whatever the hell nonsense Elon and the other loons are trying to claim.

[Anonymous]

Make no mistake. MAGA wants USAID destroyed because of Russian propaganda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These grants have nothing to do with the things people are complaining about.

How do you figure??

DP...
Elon and the Trump White House are completely full of crap. They have provided ZERO evidence that the funds are actually for the things he claims they are.

As just an example, here is a link to the grant for the Ireland DEI musical fund.

https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_SEI30022GR0010_1900

The trans opera in a Columbia was approved by the state department’s bureau of western hemisphere affairs, backed up by the house foreign affairs chairman.

The department and chairman approved these projects should be ashamed of themselves.

So it's a DOS project. Not USAID.

[Anonymous]

But remember, transgender women played sports. So it’s all worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make no mistake. MAGA wants USAID destroyed because of Russian propaganda.

Please clarify, as your post is unclear. Was USAID promoting democracy and free markets inside Russia or is that claim Russian propaganda?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you suddenly scrutinizing USAID budgets and expenses, I look forward to your scrutiny of taxpayer dollars being spent at Trump hotels, resorts, and other businesses over the next four years (not to mention all the contributions to those Trump companies from foreign entities).

If there is a suspicion that taxpayer money is being wasted, then certainly they should be looked at. Why do you sound like you would have preferred a status quo where the waste continues?

You are clueless. USAID programs and funding annually go through budget submissions, House and Senate committee hearings and approvals, House and Senate floor votes, Presidential signature, regulatory processes with comment periods, legal scrutiny, etc., acquisition and grants management procedures, requirements, evaluations, oversight, reporting, and then start the processes over again. Just because you and Elon Musk are clueless doesn’t mean these are secret programs. They have been vetted and vetted and vetted to comply with the program need defined by law by Congress.

It's terrifying to me that with so many approval needed, so much abuse of government funds still got approved. It's a very hard job for the President to clean the house.

Just STFU. USAID does great things that help people, save lives, and are a great benefit for the U.S. image abroad. Otherwise, we would just be known for our history of DoD, State, and CIA supporting authoritarian regimes that oppress their citizens. Trump is setting us back 50 years.

USAID is the CIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our good friends worked for USAID - never knew it as they were contractors and I just assumed NGO, state department or foreign service.

Anyway; they got fired - it totally sucks.

But, really; if I have known these people for years but never even heard of the federal agency they were contractors for why is everyone freaking out?

Foreign aid will always be a part of US national security- and I am sure it will resume…but in the scheme of things this is not really an issue.

Potentially firing thousands of FBI agents seems a lot more serious.

Your good friends just got fired, but because they never told you the acronym of their funding source your response is “meh, guess it didn’t matter anyway.”

I am one of those people losing their jobs due to the foreign aid freeze. My work saved babies. Now it is gone and babies will die. Is that enough for you to feel more than “meh” for them? How about for me?

Friend my a$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make no mistake. MAGA wants USAID destroyed because of Russian propaganda.

Please clarify, as your post is unclear. Was USAID promoting democracy and free markets inside Russia or is that claim Russian propaganda?

I doubt USAID were active in russia by the time of that tweet. But russia was and still is allergic to any democracy anywhere. Great move from musk removing USAID website so people who only heard of USAID by name cannot go and see what projects they were actually supporting. It has ripple effects on contractors worldwide, but also on US manufacturers and consultants / contractors here. USAID projects had to procure US made IT and other items. Well, guess now China with the silk and road initiative, their influence, and procurement preferences will swoop in where the US stopped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you suddenly scrutinizing USAID budgets and expenses, I look forward to your scrutiny of taxpayer dollars being spent at Trump hotels, resorts, and other businesses over the next four years (not to mention all the contributions to those Trump companies from foreign entities).

If there is a suspicion that taxpayer money is being wasted, then certainly they should be looked at. Why do you sound like you would have preferred a status quo where the waste continues?

You are clueless. USAID programs and funding annually go through budget submissions, House and Senate committee hearings and approvals, House and Senate floor votes, Presidential signature, regulatory processes with comment periods, legal scrutiny, etc., acquisition and grants management procedures, requirements, evaluations, oversight, reporting, and then start the processes over again. Just because you and Elon Musk are clueless doesn’t mean these are secret programs. They have been vetted and vetted and vetted to comply with the program need defined by law by Congress.

It's terrifying to me that with so many approval needed, so much abuse of government funds still got approved. It's a very hard job for the President to clean the house.

Just STFU. USAID does great things that help people, save lives, and are a great benefit for the U.S. image abroad. Otherwise, we would just be known for our history of DoD, State, and CIA supporting authoritarian regimes that oppress their citizens. Trump is setting us back 50 years.

USAID is the CIA.

No. No it's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make no mistake. MAGA wants USAID destroyed because of Russian propaganda.

Please clarify, as your post is unclear. Was USAID promoting democracy and free markets inside Russia or is that claim Russian propaganda?

They probably tried to throw a trans hip hop jam session and the russians didn't like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make no mistake. MAGA wants USAID destroyed because of Russian propaganda.

Please clarify, as your post is unclear. Was USAID promoting democracy and free markets inside Russia or is that claim Russian propaganda?

I doubt USAID were active in russia by the time of that tweet. But russia was and still is allergic to any democracy anywhere. Great move from musk removing USAID website so people who only heard of USAID by name cannot go and see what projects they were actually supporting. It has ripple effects on contractors worldwide, but also on US manufacturers and consultants / contractors here. USAID projects had to procure US made IT and other items. Well, guess now China with the silk and road initiative, their influence, and procurement preferences will swoop in where the US stopped.

Meant road and belt initiative. This opinion expresses it well:
https://news.cornell.edu/media-relations/tip-sheets/usaid-closure-only-winners-are-china-and-russia

[Anonymous]

And for all the tough talk Trump had on russia, he seems to be targeting closest allies and not russia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our good friends worked for USAID - never knew it as they were contractors and I just assumed NGO, state department or foreign service.

Anyway; they got fired - it totally sucks.

But, really; if I have known these people for years but never even heard of the federal agency they were contractors for why is everyone freaking out?

Foreign aid will always be a part of US national security- and I am sure it will resume…but in the scheme of things this is not really an issue.

Potentially firing thousands of FBI agents seems a lot more serious.

Your good friends just got fired, but because they never told you the acronym of their funding source your response is “meh, guess it didn’t matter anyway.”

I am one of those people losing their jobs due to the foreign aid freeze. My work saved babies. Now it is gone and babies will die. Is that enough for you to feel more than “meh” for them? How about for me?

Friend my a$$.

DP. It is always terrible when friends are laid off. But this is not a thing that only affects federal workers! On the contrary, many of my private sector friends have been laid off multiple times in recent years. It is stressful and awful.