Moves to Dismantle USAID Threaten US Rule Of Law

Washington, D.C. – In response to the Trump Administration’s recent multiple moves against USAID programs, staff and offices, the Center for International Policy’s Vice President for Government Affairs Dylan Williams issued the following statement:

“President Trump has triggered a full-fledged constitutional crisis with his and Elon Musk’s moves to eliminate USAID. While the impacts of this illegal assault on a Congressionally-authorized agency are already being felt by millions of the world’s most vulnerable people, it also presents a potentially existential threat to the rule of law in the United States.

“President Trump’s orders to stop USAID’s disbursement of duly appropriated funds constitutes an illegal and unconstitutional impoundment. The efforts of Elon Musk and his associates to improperly access private, classified or otherwise protected information – including through attempted intimidation of USAID security personnel – is both unlawful and disturbingly fascistic.

Statements by both President Trump and Mr. Musk indicating a desire to eliminate or merge USAID with the State Department make clear that they are not undertaking these steps based on any legal authority, but based on personal animus against much of the agency’s work and the agency itself. The Executive Branch cannot unilaterally override and violate laws passed by Congress that provide for the authorization and funding of USAID’s operations – much less a private citizen like Mr. Musk.

“This effort to destroy USAID, especially when coupled with simultaneous moves by Mr. Musk’s associates to take control of the federal government’s main payment system operated by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, is an open attempt by President Trump to assume extraconstitutional powers to create and destroy entire functions of the U.S. Government at will, and single-handedly decide who benefits from its largesse. It is a precedent that has implications far beyond foreign aid, endangering the separation of powers and rule of law central to the maintenance of our democracy.

“We commend the bravery and commitment of USAID personnel and other federal employees who have refused to follow unlawful instructions from the administration or Mr. Musk’s operation. We call on U.S. lawmakers to fulfill their oaths by defending the Constitution against this assault through all available means. And we proudly join with other Americans in resisting this flagrant attempt to subvert the rule of law.”

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