Yesterday in Washington, diplomats, Vice President Joe Biden, and Caroline Kennedy and many others, came together to commemorate 50 years of accomplishments of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). And revealed there was this marvelous video with the backdrop of JFK’s founding words and vision for the agency.
At the same time this event was going on, down the street on Capital Hill, the congressional “super-committee” continues to craft a long-term budget deal. While not much is known to the public about their pending proposals, many suspect cuts in foreign aid will be a likely target.
In public polling it is an area often targeted for elimination, despite most people being unaware of the actual small portion of the budget it composes, just 1% of the total US budget. Furthermore, the public often does not understand the distinctions between primarily humanitarian aid (what USAID does) from military or other forms of foreign assistance.
But the program as an essential compliment to security policy, generating good will that translates into enhanced stability around the world. This point is outlined in today’s Politico editorial co-authored by four previous Democratic and Republican administrators.
“Despite USAID’s record of success, it is facing disproportionate cuts compared with other national security funding. Current proposals could have a devastating effect on the agency’s ability to respond to crises and handle day-to-day operations, curtailing efforts begun under the Bush and Obama administrations to strengthen its expertise and effectiveness. This is a dangerous proposition with serious implications for our national and economic security.
We recognize that, in tight budgetary times, each agency must show that its programs are effective and efficient. That’s why each of us worked to implement transparent, accountable programs — which Raj Shah, the current administrator, continues.
We must follow and build on our tradition of innovation in developing results-driven programs and stringent monitoring and evaluation.
As former administrators, from both parties, we call on Congress to resist the shortsighted urge to decimate USAID accounts. The stakes are too high for us to pull back from the global challenges the United States is facing around the world today.
When USAID is at work, the best of America is on display — and our security and economy are the better for it.”
Read full editorial: USAID is foreign policy’s best dollar value (Politio.com)
In order to preserve the strength of the program, we encourage readers to call upon your member of Congress and the President to continue the essential agriculture, food and economic development programs of USAID.