U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently criticized the Trump Administration’s actions concerning the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking on the Senate floor, Shaheen expressed concerns over what she described as “damaging and reckless actions” that could pose significant threats to U.S. national security and global health.
Shaheen highlighted several issues related to public health and international aid programs. She mentioned a Marburg virus outbreak in Africa, noting its high mortality rate and lack of treatment or vaccination options. “There’s a Marburg outbreak—another hemorrhagic disease that’s happening in Africa. It has a 90% mortality rate,” she stated.
She further argued that cutting these programs would not benefit America: “These things don’t just happen overseas. They affect us here in America… [cutting off these programs] doesn’t make America safer.”
Shaheen also pointed out past successes of USAID initiatives like PEPFAR, which reduced new HIV infections outside sub-Saharan Africa. She warned against neglecting foreign assistance amid crises such as famine in Sudan, emphasizing potential humanitarian impacts: “If we don’t get our foreign assistance turned back on to help the Sudanese, 8 million people are going to starve to death.”
The senator also referenced other outbreaks like Ebola and bird flu and criticized Elon Musk’s influence on shutting down aid programs: “We don’t have any aid workers anymore because under Elon Musk’s order, they’ve shut down those programs.”
Finally, Shaheen urged her colleagues to oppose Russell Vought’s policies: “I hope my colleagues will stand against Russell Vought who has been the architect of so much of this carnage.”
