Deborah Walker: Eliminating USAID is a big mistake, counter to US goals

To The Daily Sun,

If the major goal of American defense policy is to provide security for U.S. citizens here and abroad, then funding USAID should be an important part of our defense strategy. The USAID $40 billion investment which delivers “soft power” around the globe, is less than 5% of the U.S. investment of over $850 billion in the “hard power” provided by the Defense Department. USAID supports investments in health care, education, food and other life-saving services for women, children and their families in approximately 130 countries. The USAID staff are not “radical lunatics” as the president states but are committed and dedicated professionals working to save children’s lives, promote literacy, and prevent diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and blindness. The elimination of USAID has not only stopped funds to save people’s lives but also has interrupted bird flu surveillance in 49 countries at a time when there is growing concern of a new pandemic. Many of the allegations of what the funds are used for, including “$100 million has been spent on condoms to Hamas” are false. The USAID elimination and cuts to U.S. investments in “soft power” and “life-saving” services in over half of the countries in the world is foolish, cruel and counter-productive to U.S. goals. We need to stop this unconstitutional act and restore the USAID staff and programs.

Deborah Walker

Meredith