The Musk-Trump Administration has taken a chain saw to the federal workforce. Chop, chop, chop; cut, cut, cut.
And the cuts didn’t come because of any kind of audit or evaluation of the effectiveness or efficiency of the affected program. The cuts were based on the judgement of a bunch of 20-something DOGE-Bros who know nothing about the programs or the federal government in general.
Workers and agencies across the board were affected, including those providing critical public health, environmental, and consumer protections. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Labor, the Agriculture Department, the Department of Education, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Park Service, the IRS, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Social Security Administration!
And I’m sure I missed something here. The loss of these jobs is devastating for the federal workers and their families, and the resulting diminution of services is devasting for the rest of us.
But it was the US Agency for International Development (USAID) that suffered the full impact of the cost-cutting frenzy. In his own words on X, Co-President Musk crowed “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper. Could have gone to some great parties. Did this instead.” And this is our Co-President speaking. Talking about actual people. Workers whose lives and livelihoods were being upended.
Quick detour on USAID
USAID was established on November 3,1961 by President John F. Kennedy. It was created to unify and streamline U.S. foreign aid programs, which had previously been managed by multiple agencies. During its lifetime, the agency responded to a host of global health crises and played a major role in post-disaster relief efforts. It participated in counterterrorism and stabilization efforts after 9/11 and in the 2020s, focused on climate change, COVID-19 response, food security, and supporting Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
Today, the only thing you’ll find on the USAID.gov website is the February email to DC-based USAID staff telling them how to get their personal belongings out of the Ronald Reagan Building and telling them that “Staff WILL NOT be reimbursed for any transportation or parking costs associated with collecting their personal belongings.”
The Victims of Elonism
Sure, like any organization, USAID wasn’t perfect, and it had its share of controversy. But its mission was honorable and its efforts laudable.
When Musk turned on the chipper, some 5,800 projects were abruptly terminated “for the convenience and the interest of the U.S. government.” Certainly not in the interest of the those receiving or providing care and treatment for tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, Ebola, and a host of tropical diseases. Or those in programs focused on maternal and child health, malnutrition, clean water, adequate sanitation, and the trauma of war and displacement. [See here, here for some of these efforts] And certainly not in the interest of the 12,700 Americans who lost their jobs.
This was not a bloodless, bureaucratic, boring budget exercise that only affects unelected faceless bureaucrats. For weeks, global health experts have been warning Trump appointees that hundreds of thousands of people will die if USAID is closed. Internal memos noted that up to 166,000 people will die from malaria, and new cases of tuberculosis will go up by 30%. One million children will not be treated for severe acute malnutrition, and two hundred thousand children will be paralyzed by polio over the next decade. Ignoring this message is beyond a callous disregard for human life. Seems more like a mass murder in the making.
And let’s not forget that what goes around can come around. Infectious disease can hop a plane and arrive here at home. During the 2014-2016 outbreak, 11 people with Ebola were treated in the United States, nine of whom had contracted it in western Africa, most as health care workers. Two died.
One promising bit of news – just yesterday (Wednesday, March 5) the Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s emergency request to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid as part of his efforts to slash government spending.
Adding the Insult to the Job Loss Injury
Readers of Confined Space understand all too well what losing a job can mean.
- A significant financial impact – making it difficult to cover expenses like rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, prescriptions, medical bills, filling up the car. Loss of employer-provided health insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits. A drain on savings or taking on new debt.
- A career impact. Extended unemployment may make it harder to secure future jobs and can lead to a decline in skills.
- A social and relationship impact. Financial stress can create tension and strain relationships with family and friends. A loss of daily social interactions at work can lead to loneliness and isolation. Ask anyone who has been laid off.
Bottom Line
OK, the demise of USAID may not be the worst news you’ve heard over the past few weeks. [God save the King!]. But here’s the kicker:: An unnamed source tells me that at least one company with a now defunct contract with USAID held an all-hands meeting this week to let the staff know that they were shutting the program down—and that their overseas employees should come home. AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
Seriously? Tough luck, folks and good luck finding cheap flights. The multi-billion dollar company is still in business as far as I can tell…. But they left their overseas workers high and dry.
I get that the loss of a big government contract is a blow. And I’m sorry about this one in particular. But come on….. even if you can’t continue to employ these people, can’t you help them get back home to look for other jobs? Why add insult to injury?
As a tax-paying American, this is exactly what I voted for.
I find it funny how you’re upset that an NGO such as the U.S. Agency for International Development can no longer provide millions/billions of American tax-payer funds for things that don’t benefit America or it’s people. You’re argument is that we need to keep USAID in tact, for what exactly? Simply to keep people employed?
If these unemployed, ex-government workers have skills they’ll have no issues finding other work. The problem is, many of these same people have no skill set whatsoever. These people are ‘process’ people, not ‘nuts & bolts’ people; the difference being ‘process people’ talk a good game but never get anything meaningful accomplished, ‘nuts & bolts’ people are about finding solutions to problems and executing those solutions to move forward.
Kathleen, you sound like a ‘process’ person just like Jordan. Keep crying, your tears are so sweet!
Hey Anthony. A few things:
1. USAID is not an NGO. It’s a federal government agency established by Congress. And Trump can’t legally get rid of it.
2. USAID does benefit the US. This is life saving aid. Even if you don’t care if the rest of the world dies horrible preventable deaths, our withdrawal leaves a huge vacuum, some of which will be filled by the Russians and Chinese. So if you have no problem seeing the world to the Russians and Chinese…Also, it doesn’t cost much. The entire USAID budget is less than Elon paid for Twitter. Also misery generates refugees. Wouldn’t want that, would we?
3. This is extremely skilled and often dangerous work done by some of the most dedicated, hard-working people you will ever meet anywhere. If you want more info on that, happy to introduce you to some of them.
4. You clearly don’t know very much about any of this. But there is a cure. Read and learn.
5. Cut the crap about tears. That belongs in Twitter. This is a serious publication. As I’ve warned you before, I’m always happy to have a serious conversation. But the twitterish stuff will get you blocked.
Have a nice day