"Inappropriate Actions Denounced": Democratic Legislators Criticize Trump Administration for Alleged Illegal Acts at USAID
In a series of unexpected moves, the Trump administration has sparked controversy and concern among lawmakers, foreign service officers, and development professionals.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) found itself in the midst of turmoil on Monday, as its website went down and most employees were barred from entering the building. The American Foreign Service Association, a leading organisation representing the foreign service workforce, voiced its concern, stating that the administration's actions could potentially harm U.S. interests and established agency procedures.
The association also expressed alarm over the abrupt placement of foreign service officers on administrative leave without proper notice or justification. This decision, they argued, undermines U.S. national security and demonstrates a lack of respect for development professionals.
In a further development, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass, spoke directly to federal employees disaffected by recent actions through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Elon Musk, designated as a 'special government employee' by Trump, has been at the centre of these actions, with reports suggesting that his DOGE teams visited and took over operations and some IT systems at various government departments, including the Office of Personnel Management, General Services Administration, and the Treasury Department.
Musk and Trump have reportedly agreed to shut down USAID, a move that has been met with strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers. Senators and House Democrats attempted to meet with USAID officials, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va, and Rep. Suhas Subramanyan, D-Va, have both promised to fight against the shutdown of USAID in every possible way.
The shutdown of USAID, according to Rep. Suhas Subramanyan, is illegal, wrong, and unconstitutional. He further stated that it takes an act of Congress to shut down USAID. In a significant development, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed as the new acting administrator of USAID.
However, no information is available regarding which government official was appointed by the White House as the new head of USAID on Monday. Democrats have vowed to fight the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle USAID in court. The future of USAID remains uncertain, as lawmakers and officials grapple with the implications of these controversial decisions.
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