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ProPublicaJAN 29
Trump Fires USAID Watchdog
Above: A worker removes the US Agency for International Development sign on its headquarters Feb. 7, 2025. Image copyright: Kayla Bartkowski/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Democrats may not like the way the Trump administration is handling its crackdown on fraud and waste, but the president has significant authority over how US tax dollars are spent — and judges are likely to agree with Trump on this matter. USAID has been wasting billions of the US' money, and it was crucial to put an end to this before the situation worsened further.
Democratic narrative
Whether the administration's rapid dismantling of USAID, which threatens vital humanitarian aid programs, is constitutional will be determined by the courts. Just as troubling, though, is Trump's attempt to replace all overseers with loyalists and the chilling effect this has on those whose job it is to independently report on the administration's actions.