Reckless, tragic, and downright evil

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Jason, this is going to be a long email, because I have a lot to say about this. There are reports out this morning that 97% of USAID employees are being dismissed, days after a stop-work order has essentially shut down the agency's operations. This is a reckless and tragic maneuver. It will hurt our country, and it will hurt our standing in the world. Children will die, and it will make Americans demonstrably less safe. And here's the kicker: All of this is to eliminate at best 1% of the federal budget.  This is happening because Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has a vendetta against an agency whose objective is to help the world's poorest communities.  As the story has unfolded, one thing I've noticed is that Musk and his allies seem to be light on facts about this agency they want to end. They peddle propaganda and rumors and make claims of "fraud" and "waste." Honest to god, though, I've yet to hear them give an example that wasn't immediately debunked.  So let's take a second to look at what USAID is, and why I believe America will come to deeply regret its destruction. USAID works in over 120 countries. Its focus is on humanitarian intervention and economic development — covering everything from childhood nutrition to clean water to education to fighting epidemics. It's not hyperbole to say that this agency saves lives every single day.  All of these programs add up to something profound, a shining example of America's leadership and values — the living proof that "soft power" is an essential part of national security, strengthening global partnerships and fostering our reputation all across the globe. It's why President Kennedy, when he created USAID, called it a "very powerful source of strength" for America, allowing us to deploy aid workers instead of our armed forces.  Ask someone who's served in the military overseas, and there's a good chance they have a story of USAID workers making their missions easier. These folks are there in combat zones doing important, dangerous work — often without the protection of our military. I served alongside them in Afghanistan. And after my third combat tour, I was assigned for nearly three years to be the Marine Corps liaison to other government agencies like USAID. Why? Because they are doing integral work in all the places our Marines are deployed! USAID workers are patriots. They are smart and selfless. So many of these folks could have chosen a different career path and made a lot more money, but they choose to serve our country — and to do so in some really harsh places. That's because thoughtful people know that when you're building schools and digging wells and preventing babies from contracting deadly diseases, you're leading by example — leaving the world a better place than you found it.  That matters. It saves lives. People notice.  If the unelected agents of so-called "government efficiency" are too ignorant to understand that, they should go back to making apps and sending rockets into space.  The consequences of their actions will be heartbreaking — one USAID worker estimated that in just the first few days of the stop-work order, "at a minimum, 300 babies that wouldn't have had HIV, now do." It's hard to call that anything but evil. Right now, I'm dismayed by these short-sighted maneuvers. I'm angry for the people I worked alongside who are being treated so poorly — having their work disrespected and discarded. And I'm worried about what this means for America's future in the world. But I also know that the actions Musk is taking are largely illegal and unconstitutional. That means they can be stopped.  It's on us to keep speaking out. Keep calling your members of Congress — the switchboard is (202) 224-3121 — and say you want them to stop the destruction of USAID.  I believe in the America that wants to show the world what it stands for — an America that is proud to help save lives and root out poverty and disease across the globe. I'm fairly certain I'm not alone in that belief.  Let's fight for it.  Amy DONATE   PAID FOR BY DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY ACTION (DMAPAC.COM) NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 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