THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL-MAY 2025 13 W hat we should vociferously oppose is a “spoils system” in connection with the appointment of ambassadors. The sale of embassies to the highest bidder or the use of them for consolation prizes for defeated politicians is not only repugnant—it is also dangerous. —Retired Foreign Service Officer Thomas J. Dunnigan in “Letters to FSJ” in the April 1975 edition of The Foreign Service Journal. USAID and America’s foreign assistance programs are vital to our interests, the career men and women of USAID have served each of us well, and it is the duty of the Administration and Congress to swiftly protect the Agency’s statutory role. —Former USAID Administrators J. Brian Atwood, Peter McPherson, Andrew Natsios, Samantha Power, and Gayle Smith in a Feb. 5 statement. History will not look kindly on this avoidable tragedy—for the hundreds of millions in need, for U.S. leadership and moral authority around the world, and for U.S. national security, as global competitors like China and Russia rush to fill the gap we have created. … When Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries, and Members of Congress are welcomed in countries of Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe, the concrete manifestations of U.S. government support have been the humanitarian and development programs supported by USAID. These programs represent less than one percent of the federal budget but have given the United States enormous capacity for influence. —Letter from 200-plus former U.S. ambassadors and national security officials to Congress, Feb. 14. Foreign assistance is critical to national security. It builds allies, strengthens ties, expands trade; it encourages countries to cooperate on common interests—containing disease, creating jobs, ending illiteracy, and attacking cross-border issues like terrorism, crime, and misuse of natural resources which are too big for one country to take on alone. … Gutting USAID will have grave consequences for the countries in which USAID operates, America’s reputation, and U.S. national security. … The harm these actions will cause cannot be overstated. As USAID closes critical programs, the vacuum left will be filled by our adversaries. —USAID Alumni Association in a Feb. 11 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Every President since the end of World War II has understood the important role that economic and development assistance has played in securing our well-being. USAID has been the leading U.S. government assistance agency for over 60 years. Along with our military, diplomatic, and intelligence services, it has been a vital guarantor of our national security. … The brave and devoted American officers who make up USAID serve around the world in difficult and dangerous places, bringing a message of hope and solidarity from the American people. —American Academy of Diplomacy, Statement on USAID Closure, Feb. 6. We have seen attempts at wholesale dismantling of departments and entities created by Congress without seeking the required congressional approval to change the law. These actions do not make America stronger. They make us weaker. … USAID employees assigned to build programs that benefit foreign countries are being doxed, harassed, and given conflicting information about their employment status. These stories should concern all Americans because they are our family members, neighbors, and friends. … Refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress under the euphemism of a pause is a violation of the rule of law. The money appropriated by Congress must be spent in accordance with what Congress has said. —American Bar Association, Statement on the Rule of Law, Feb. 10. Statements of Support for USAID 50 Years Ago Diplomacy for Sale
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