Democrats Pledge to Reject Changes in USAID

Democrat directors in Congress warned President Donald Trump this week that they will use future talks on the federal budget as a mechanism to exert pressure, to counter changes made by the new administration to government agencies in the United States, such as the Agency for International Development, USAID, the main agency offering humanitarian aid abroad. America's Voice correspondent Catherine Gypson brings more broadly the attitudes of lawmakers and analysts on what is happening with USAID.

From the protection of the Amazon tropical forests; to the care of Myanmar refugees and the shelter of Ukrainians who leave the war launched by Russia; the lack of assistance provided by the United States is felt worldwide. In Washington this week, Democrat lawmakers protested outside U's now closed headquarters US and outside Congress.

“We will challenge the violations they have committed regarding the division of powers. U.S. Constitution violation. We won't be silent. We're gonna get up. We'll react. We will challenge”Senator Democrat Cory Booker said.

Earlier this week, the United States Agency for International Development , U n AID, was brought under the control of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and almost all of its employees were sent with forced permission, following President Donald Trump's executive order to suspend all assistance to foreign countries while undergoing a review process.

We're seeing how Donald J. Trump and the world's richest man, Elon Musk, are taking money and food away from the poorest people in the world, Democrat lawmaker Jonathan Jackson said.

Republican lawmakers in Congress say Mr. Trump is exercising broad presidential authority to reevaluate federal agencies. Mr. Trump is doing this through billionaire Elon Musk, who has been placed at the head of the Government Efficiency Department, DOGE, aimed at cutting federal expenses.

I don't think they're shutting down the agency, but I believe they have the right to review spending, how decisions are made, and what priorities are financed. I think this applies to every administration. When the new administration comes, there are many authorized and funded programs through that agency ( U n AID, some which I think are operating as predicted, some not”, said John Thone, leader of the majority in the Senate.

Analyst Claire Finkelstein told the Voice of America that this is an unprecedented situation.

The “will probably be a violation of power sharing so that the executive branch will try to completely close the agencies that have been established by Congress, which also approves the funds, even though this executive branch has authority over how funds should be used and how USAID-i<x1 can function, She says Mrs. Finkelstein.

The minority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, said Tuesday he supports efforts to eliminate embezzlement and abuses, but criticised the speed and secrecy of the process.

Whatever the Government Efficiency Department is doing is not a democracy. We know what democracy is like. Transparent. Not secret”Mr. Schumer said.

The Democrats have pledged to block the cabinet's nominated Trump vote and use their votes as a means of pressure for the government's financing budget to challenge changes in USAID. /VOA/