As most staff members at the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) marked their final day with the agency, they received acknowledgments from two former presidents and a prominent musician.
The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign assistance programming, asserting that it does not serve American interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Trump adviser Elon Musk have worked to dismantle U.S.A.I.D., claiming that its staff was insubordinate. However, recorded messages shared with employees on Monday presented a contrasting view of the agency's role in American foreign policy.
Former President George W. Bush expressed gratitude to the staff in a video message during a videoconference, highlighting the agency's contributions. He referenced the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which he initiated and is estimated to have saved 25 million lives. Bush questioned the rationale behind reducing such aid, stating, “Is it in our interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is.” He concluded with thanks for their hard work and blessings for their future endeavors.
In a separate message, former President Barack Obama criticized the decision to dismantle U.S.A.I.D., calling it a “colossal mistake.” He emphasized that ending the agency's programs would harm the most vulnerable populations and ultimately the United States itself. Obama noted, “To many people around the world, U.S.A.I.D. is the United States,” and encouraged staff to take pride in their contributions as they seek new opportunities.
Bono, the U2 frontman and advocate for developing countries, also offered a farewell in a video message. He remarked on the agency's commitment to humanitarian efforts, stating, “They called you crooks — when you were the best of us, there for the rest of us.” He further asserted that supporting the needy is not a political issue, declaring, “If this isn’t murder, I don’t know what is.”