On 25 March, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the esteemed Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, will gather Democratic Members for a compelling shadow hearing entitled “Thrown into Chaos: The Dismantling of USAID and Its Real-Life Consequences.”
Ranking Member Meeks calls this urgent meeting in response to what he sees as a grave abdication of duty by House Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to the Trump administration’s reckless dismantling of US foreign assistance and the crucial agency known as USAID.
As America’s global leadership hangs in the balance, Committee Republicans have chosen silence over accountability, refusing to hold public hearings with Trump administration officials who could provide clarity on the sweeping elimination of nearly all US foreign assistance and the devastating cuts to USAID’s operations. In stark contrast, Democrats are stepping up to meet the expectations of the American people, while their Republican counterparts shy away from their responsibilities.
During this pivotal hearing, Members will hear firsthand accounts from individuals who were abruptly ousted from their roles at USAID—a swift and jarring dismissal that disrupted vital programmes.
The panellists will share their poignant experiences, detailing how these cuts endangered national security and undermined America’s capacity for soft power on the global stage. The chilling impact of these actions will be laid bare as the actual consequences of dismantling such a pivotal agency come to light.
