Quotes
The Trump administration's attempt to shut down USAID is both illegal and unwise."
Philip Brenner, Emeritus Professor of International Relations and History at American University in Washington, D.C., previously told Newsweek To my friends who are upset, I would say - with respect - you know, call somebody who cares. They better get used to this."
Republican Senator John Kennedy said on Tuesday before the notice was released If there's massive fraud, if the funds aren't being directed to where the Congress has appropriated and the president has signed, then we need to know about that,
Roger Wicker, the Senate Armed Services chairman, told American news networks CNN and CBS Monday I don't think they're closing an agency, but I do think they have the right to review funding and how those decisions are made and what priorities are being funded,
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Tuesday I have felt for a long time that USAID is our way to combat the Belt and Road Initiative, which is China's effort to really gain influence around the world, including Africa and South America and the Western Hemisphere,
If you want to change an agency, introduce a bill and pass a law,
Democratic Senator Brian Schatz said The Constitution requires that the funding be spent by the president and the administration,
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday Whatever DOGE is doing, it's not democracy,
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday There are a lot of functions of USAID that are going to continue, that are going to be part of American foreign policy, but it has to be aligned with American foreign policy,
Rubio said on Monday during a visit to El Salvador For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight,
said a statement posted on the White House website on Monday He's mad that @DOGE is dismantling the radical-left shadow government in full view of the public. This is our ONE CHANCE to return POWER to the PEOPLE from an unelected BUREAUcracy back to DEMOcracy!!"
Musk responded to Schumer on X on Tuesday I want the states to run schools, and I want Linda to put herself out of a job,
Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, referring to his pick for education secretary, Linda McMahon We don't have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk,
Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat told the crowd Save USAid, save lives."
Democrats were denied entry to the public lobby of the agency's headquarters by police blocking the doors as they joined around 50 demonstrators brandishing banners demanding Reagan campaigned on ending the federal Dept of Education, which was created by Carter in 1979, but it was bigger when Reagan left office than when he started!"
Musk posted on X on Tuesday We partner to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity,
is how USAID has described its mission I think I'd work with Congress."
Asked whether he plans to resort to an executive order or collaborate with Congress, Trump said Unilaterally closing USAID is illegal,
Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat and the Senate minority leader, said on the Senate floor on Monday They have basically evolved into an agency that believes that they're not even a U.S. Government agency, that they are out – they're a global charity, that they take the taxpayer money and they spend it as a global charity irrespective of whether it is in the national interest or not in the national interest
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News The attempt to shut down USAID is unwise because it unnecessarily will harm millions of people who depend on the medical, food and technical assistance that USAID provides. The harm would be a significant stain on the moral standing of the United States, which already has one of the lowest per capita aid budgets among the world's richest countries
Philip Brenner, Emeritus Professor of International Relations and History, American University, Washington, DC., told Newsweek
