Hundreds of diplomats from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, voicing strong opposition to the dismantling of USAID. They warned that shutting down the agency would weaken US leadership, threaten national security, and create a power vacuum that China and Russia could exploit.
The letter is expected to be submitted through the department’s internal “dissent channel,” which allows diplomats to raise concerns anonymously. In it, they argue that the Trump administration’s January 20 freeze on nearly all foreign aid puts American diplomats and military personnel at risk while endangering millions of lives worldwide that rely on US assistance.
A US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that more than 700 individuals had signed the letter.
“The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid contracts and assistance awards without any meaningful review jeopardizes our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, and creates openings for adversaries to expand their influence,” the cable stated, according to a copy seen by Reuters.
Following his return to office on January 20, President Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid, aligning with his “America First” agenda. This decision effectively halted USAID operations worldwide, disrupting humanitarian aid, including the delivery of food and medical supplies, and throwing global relief efforts into disarray.
“The freeze on life-saving aid has already caused irreparable harm and suffering to millions of people around the world,” the letter stated, adding that despite claims of waivers for life-saving programs, funding remained blocked.
Trump tasked billionaire adviser Elon Musk with dismantling USAID as part of an aggressive effort to shrink the federal government, citing concerns over wasteful spending and misuse of funds.
“Foreign assistance is not charity. Instead, it is a strategic tool that stabilizes regions, prevents conflict, and advances US interests,” the letter emphasized.
A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the cable, saying, “We do not comment on leaked internal communication.”
In the 2023 fiscal year, the US distributed $72 billion in foreign aid, funding initiatives such as women’s health in conflict zones, access to clean water, HIV/AIDS treatment, energy security, and anti-corruption efforts.
However, after reviewing 6,200 multi-year aid agreements, the administration decided to terminate nearly 5,800 of them, cutting $54 billion—about 92% of the total foreign aid budget. As a result, USAID has fired or placed thousands of staff and contractors on administrative leave.
The cable further highlighted the economic impact of the government’s failure to pay outstanding invoices to contractors and aid partners.
“The resulting financial strain not only undermines confidence in the US government as a reliable partner but also weakens domestic economic growth at a time of mounting global competition,” it warned.
Organizations and companies contracting with USAID have since sued the administration, arguing that the agency’s dismantling is unlawful and that the government cut off funding for existing contracts, including hundreds of millions of dollars for completed work.
On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court rejected the administration’s attempt to withhold payments, upholding a district court ruling that ordered the government to release funds to contractors for work they had already completed.
