The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a federal bureau notorious for its extravagant spending on foreign development projects, has officially ceased operations.
The agency, which has been criticized for its wasteful use of taxpayer dollars on projects such as Peruvian transgender comic books and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) musicals in Ireland, has been incorporated into the Department of State. The restructured entity will be known as America First, a name that suggests a shift away from funding frivolous projects towards more result-oriented initiatives.
According to the Western Journal, the closure of USAID was marked by an emotional video farewell featuring former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, as well as U2 lead singer Bono. The video conference, described by the Associated Press as a "closed-press event," allowed these public figures to express their disappointment and frustration over the agency's closure.
Obama, who was the main attraction of the event, described the closure of USAID as a "colossal mistake." He praised the work of the agency, stating, "Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come." He further lamented the closure, arguing that it would hurt the most vulnerable and the United States itself. "To many people around the world, USAID is the United States," Obama said, as reported by The New York Times. He also predicted that "sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realize how much you are needed."
Bush, on the other hand, commended the agency for showing "the great strength of America through your work and that is your good heart." He questioned whether it was in the national interest to cut funding for an agency that had saved millions of lives. "Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you," Bush said.
The event also featured a surprise appearance from Bono, who has been a long-time humanitarian advocate in Africa and elsewhere. Bono, known for his flamboyant style, addressed the USAID staffers as "secret agents of international development." He passionately recited a poem he had written for the agency, speaking of children dying of malnutrition and the millions who will die due to U.S. cuts to funding for health and other programs abroad.
However, the closure of USAID and its subsequent incorporation into the Department of State is seen by many as a necessary step towards curbing wasteful spending and promoting efficiency within the federal bureaucracy. The agency's track record of funding questionable projects has drawn criticism from conservatives who argue that taxpayer dollars should be used more judiciously.
Despite the emotional farewell and the criticism from public figures like Obama, Bush, and Bono, the closure of USAID is seen by many as a step in the right direction. The new entity, America First, is expected to focus on delivering tangible results rather than funding projects that do not align with the interests of the American people.
This shift in focus is seen as a move towards a more conservative approach to foreign aid, one that prioritizes the interests of the American people over wasteful spending on questionable foreign projects.
The closure of USAID and the establishment of America First is a clear indication of a shift towards a more conservative approach to foreign aid. This approach prioritizes efficiency, accountability, and the interests of the American people over wasteful spending on questionable foreign projects.
Despite the emotional farewell and the criticism from public figures like Obama, Bush, and Bono, many see this as a necessary step towards curbing wasteful spending and promoting efficiency within the federal bureaucracy.
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