Democrats have vowed to fight the shuttering of USAID, asserting it weakens the US and helps its adversaries.
They took aim at President Donald Trump’s adviser Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who announced the decision on Monday, questioning his authority.
“We are not going to let this injustice happen”, Senator Brian Schatz said on Monday in Washington with demonstrators holding up signs denouncing the closure of USAID.
“We are going to fight in every way we can, in the courts in public opinion, with the bully pulpit in the halls of Congress”, he said.
As China increases its aid and lending programmes around the world for its strategic interests, USAID is an important pillar of Washington’s efforts to counter it.
Senator Chris Van Hollen said Musk’s effort to shut down USAID is “an absolute gift to our adversaries, to Russia, to China, to Iran and others because aid is an essential instrument of US foreign policy and US national security policy”.
He quoted an X post by former Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev calling Musk closing down USAID a “smart move”.
About Musk’s connections to China, he cited former DOGE co-head Vivek Ramaswamy’s allegations that the Tesla boss was a China “puppet” who would respond to President Xi Jinping’s requests.
USAID’s work goes “hand-in-hand with our military to counter terrorism and to stabilise dangerous regions”, Representative Don Beyer said.
Congress created USAID in 1961 and “it's a matter for Congress to deal with, not an unelected billionaire oligarch that is Elon Musk”, Schatz said.
USAID’s work goes “hand-in-hand with our military to counter terrorism and to stabilise dangerous regions”, Representative Don Beyer said.
Two drowned in Pune bridge collapse, PM Modi speaks to CM Fadnavis
At least two people were killed, 32 others injured, while a total of 41 people were rescued after they fell into an overflowing river when an old bridge they were crossing collapsed in Maharashtra's Pune district on Sunday.
Haifa port in Israel operating normally despite Iran attack
There has been no damage to Israel’s Haifa port in the Iranian ballistic missile attack on an oil refinery nearby and cargo operations are progressing unhindered, according to media reports.
No recommendation, no discrimination: HM Amit Shah hails UP’s inclusive recruitment drive
In a historic ceremony, Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath distributed appointment letters to 60,244 newly selected police personnel at the Defence Expo Ground in Sector 18, Vrindavan. Out of these 60,000 recruits, more than 12,000 comprised women.
Round-the-clock DNA profiling underway: FSL Gandhinagar Director explains complex process
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has been operating around the clock to identify victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash through DNA profiling and matching.
Civil Aviation Ministry issues strict instructions to DGCA to enforce chopper safety
In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Sunday issued strict instructions to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enforce all safety protocols related to chopper operations in hilly and sensitive areas like the Kedarnath valley.
‘Harming Indians will invite punishment’, HM Shah on Op Sindoor
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that through the anti-terror Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a strong message across the world that the bloodshed of Indians will invite punishment.
Dassault CEO trashes Pakistan's claims on downing Rafale jets
Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier has dismissed as "factually incorrect" Pakistan’s claims about having shot down three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor.
Tripura BJP stages protest over vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in B'desh
Ruling BJP in Tripura on Saturday staged state-wide protests along the Bangladesh border, protesting the recent attack and vandalism of the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the neighbouring country.