Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, along with U2’s Bono, took to a videoconference to console employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the agency was officially shuttered by the Trump administration. The closure, which followed allegations of fraud and mismanagement, drew sharp criticism from the former leaders, who called it a ‘colossal mistake.’ Both Bush and Obama highlighted the global impact of USAID’s programs, particularly in the field of public health. Bush pointed to the success of a program that saved 25 million lives from HIV/AIDS, a project he was instrumental in expanding during his presidency. Obama, on the other hand, described the decision to close USAID as ‘a travesty,’ emphasizing the importance of its work in addressing global health and development challenges. Bono added a poetic tribute to the agency’s employees, calling them the ‘best of us’ and warning that the closure could lead to countless preventable deaths worldwide.
Despite their strong public criticism of the Trump administration’s actions, both Bush and Obama have historically avoided openly criticizing Trump, a stance that has surprised many. For instance, both former presidents attended Trump’s 2017 inauguration and have not made public statements on most of his policies. However, their rare public solidarity on this issue has been seen as a significant moment, reflecting a broader bipartisan concern over the potential consequences of the closure of USAID. The Trump administration, in turn, has defended its decision, citing the need to eliminate fraud and mismanagement within the agency. The closure of USAID has led to the absorption of its foreign assistance programs by the State Department, a move that has drawn criticism from some members of Congress, including Senator Steve Daines, who has called for a full review of the agency’s spending practices.
Apart from the former presidents and Bono, other longstanding Trump critics, such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have also publicly endorsed the work of USAID employees and expressed concern over its closure. Clinton highlighted the dedication and impact of foreign service officers, emphasizing their role in ‘saving lives and making the world safer.’ The closure of USAID has also been scrutinized in the context of the broader government efficiency reforms led by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has been at the center of several controversies, including its investigation and condemnation of USAID for alleged corruption and inefficiency. Some critics, including Bono, have argued that the DOGE’s investigations are politically motivated, and have accused the Trump administration of using the closure as a tool to dismantle a key agency.