OneAID Updates
- oneaidcommunity
- 2 days ago
- 14 min read
April 15, 2025
Message from OneAID Community Network Volunteers
Our OneAID Community Network includes grassroots organizations and volunteers that have come together in response to USAID’s dismantling. We have organized people and groups, shared mental health and career resources with our community, published updates and analysis, and connected various networks under the OneAID Community umbrella.
Representatives from more than 15 organizations and other volunteers will gather for a workshop on April 24-25 to host a strategy session exploring how our volunteer efforts can be maximized over the next several months and discuss how to preserve and influence the next iteration of international assistance.
You already help us advance the mission of the OneAID Community Network as a OneAID Community Update subscriber—thank you. If you would like to contribute in another way, we would be grateful for a donation to help offset the administrative costs of the workshop. Our April 29 OneAID Community Update will present high-level takeaways from the session and detail opportunities for our subscribers to get further involved in this movement.
As a grassroots volunteer movement, we sincerely appreciate any contribution that would be meaningful to you. Please click here to donate. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Events
⇨ Wednesday, April 16 at 4:00 pm ET [online]: Global Citizen will host a virtual teach-in on “Advocacy 101: Turning Passion into Impact” for anyone who’s ready to turn frustration into action. Featured panelists include OneAID's Managing Director for Strategic Communications Catherine Baker and Maron Alemu, District Director for Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8). Register here.
⇨ Saturday, April 19: The next iteration of the Hands Off protests is this “day of action” this Saturday, which will build on the momentum from protests across the country on April 5. Organizers plan to protest and continue to take action against what they describe as a “hostile government takeover,” referring to actions undertaken by the Trump administration. Find an event or action here!
⇨ Thursday, April 24 at 9:00 - 10:30 am ET [hybrid]: The Center for Global Development will host a conversation with former USAID and State leadership, among others, on lessons learned from global development initiatives and foreign assistance programs in the wake of a dramatic upheaval in U.S. foreign aid and trade relations. Register here.
Take Action
⇨ Contact Your Representatives! We are calling on Congress to stop the Trump
Administration’s illegal, unilateral shut down of USAID, and demand that Congress be
consulted in any reorganization plan relating to USAID or the State Department. Call or email your Representatives and Senators now using this OneAID script.
Key Updates
● Courts dealt several blows this week to the legal efforts being made to stop or reverse the actions being taken to dismantle USAID and other agencies, while legal efforts to reverse DOGE actions dismantling the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP) continue.
●DOGE staffer and acting USAID Deputy Administrator Jeremy Lewin announces termination of all 10,000+ locally-employed USAID staff overseas.
●DOGE staffer and acting USAID Deputy Administrator Jeremy Lewin reinstates some USAID-funded lifesaving programs, while leaving other critical programs terminated.
●After gutting USAID and causing chaos and suffering worldwide, Pete Marocco has reportedly been pushed out of the State Department by Secretary Rubio.
●The Trump administration plans a $2.1 billion slush fund for their political priorities on the back of cuts to Congressionally-directed programs.
More details below…
Courts deal several blows to efforts to stop or reverse the dismantling of USAID and other agencies, while efforts to reverse DOGE actions at USIP continue
● Probationary employee injunctions blocked: Last week, courts dealt two blows to ongoing efforts to block the Trump Administration's termination of thousands of probationary employees.
○ On April 9, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted a stay of the
previously issued injunction, which had temporarily barred the termination of probationary employees from 20 agencies, including USAID, following a similar stay on a case brought on behalf of other probationary employees in California.
■ The states that brought suit in this case argued that the Executive Branch violated federal law when it terminated thousands of federal employees without following the procedures needed for a Reduction in Force (RIF), including prior notice to affected states.
■ The Court of Appeals found that the government was likely to succeed in their argument that the District Court can't hear the case since employees have to bring their claims in an administrative forum like the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)—so the injunction ordering the reinstatement of these employees was lifted pending the resolution of the government's appeal.
○ A separate class appeal against the termination of USAID probationary
employees was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees
(AFGE) with the MSPB on March 10, arguing that these mass terminations were
carried out as part of a RIF yet failed to follow the proper RIF procedure, and
seeking reinstatement and backpay.
● The Supreme Court paused reinstatement of the head of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB): On April 9, Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay, halting the reinstatement of the head of the MSPB, Cathy Harris and the National Labor Relations Board head—a day after the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision by a lower court to reinstate them. This stay by the Supreme Court enables the president to temporarily remove the heads of these two bodies while litigation works its way through the court system.
○ As a result of this ongoing litigation, it remains unresolved whether the MSPB, the entity that will hear many claims by federal employees, will have a quorum to consider appeals.
○ Looking forward to eventual Supreme Court arguments, while the Supreme Court held in the past that Congress can limit the president from firing certain federal officers except in cases of malfeasance, neglect of duty or ineffectiveness to shield them from politics, the government is now seeking to overturn this previous case law. In recent years the Supreme Court has narrowed Congress' ability to impose restrictions on the president's power over the Executive Branch.
● USIP employees, donors and partners challenge the Institute’s dismantling: A number of USIP employees, partners, and an endowment donor filed a lawsuit against much of the Trump administration on April 10, aimed at stopping the “bloodletting.”
○ The suit asks a federal judge for a restraining order to restore any fired
employees and prohibit the transfer of assets out of the institute’s headquarters, which is privately owned, but was raided in March by DOGE.
○ The suit claims that the government’s firing of USIP’s board, firing of employees, and termination of awards, violated the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers—and were unlawful.
○ The group suing called the eviction of their colleagues and the subsequent
standoff over the institute’s fate a “bizarre series of events that are anathema to
how the United States government relates to American civil society.”
DOGE staffer and acting USAID Deputy Administrator Jeremy Lewin announces termination of all 10,000+ locally-employed USAID staff overseas
● Following recent announcements that all USAID personnel would be terminated by
September 2025, Lewin announced on April 9 the termination of all USAID
locally-employed staff overseas (“Foreign Service Nationals” or FSNs) by August 15.
● Locally-employed staff are the backbone of every U.S. embassy and USAID mission
overseas. They are deeply rooted in their communities and have a unique understanding of the local challenges, politics, economy, opportunities, and cultural dynamics in the areas where USAID and the State Department operate. Their knowledge is invaluable for addressing complex challenges and implementing sustainable and effective solutions that are tailored to each country’s unique needs.
○ On January 30, when addressing U.S. embassy staff in Colombia, Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of locally-employed staff: “I want to also thank the locally employed staff, the nationals of those countries who work with us. Without their help, without their support, it would be impossible for us to conduct our mission, and in many ways years later I’ve run into people—literally run into people in the United States that are either conducting business or visiting as tourists or what have you, and they will tell me they were a locally employed in our—they were locally—local employees of our missions abroad, and as a result their love for our country is never-ending.
○ Andrew Natsios, former USAID administrator under President Bush has explained, “many of the local staff go on to become prime ministers, presidents, cabinet ministers. The first woman president of Costa Rica was a foreign service national who worked for USAID for 10 years. This is the case around the world. It was a training ground. And so we are now shutting down a system that trains people—and I might add, and they're very pro-American people—to public office in the developing world. Why would we do that? It's crazy.”
DOGE staffer and acting USAID Deputy Administrator Jeremy Lewin reinstates some USAID-funded lifesaving programs, while leaving other critical programs terminated
● While Secretary Rubio has repeatedly promised USAID’s lifesaving programs would continue, on April 4, Lewin terminated over $1.3 billion in lifesaving USAID programs for more than a dozen countries experiencing dire humanitarian crises.
● As of April 8, Lewin reinstated some programs, including in Ecuador, the Federated States of Micronesia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Syria, and Somalia following pressure from inside the executive branch, Congress, and across the international community.
○ In an email to USAID staff, Lewin said “sorry for all the back and forth on awards. There are a lot of stakeholders and we need to do better about balancing these competing interests—that’s my fault and I take responsibility.”
○ Lewin, a DOGE team member with no relevant experience or skills required to effectively lead USAID, continues to make hasty, uninformed decisions that are threatening the lives of millions of people around the world.
● As of April 14, lifesaving USAID programs for Afghanistan and Yemen remain cancelled. WFP estimates that the loss of U.S. funding will end food assistance for approximately 2 million people in Afghanistan and 2.4 million people in Yemen.
○ In response to USAID funding cuts in Yemen, one aid worker interviewed by Amnesty International said “we’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted. People you are emailing are not there. This is impacting our Yemen grant as well as many others elsewhere.”
● As a reason for terminating the programs, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, without evidence, cited concerns about misuse and lack of appropriate accountability of USAID cash-based humanitarian assistance. However, not all programs which were canceled focused on cash-based aid. Bruce falsely said that “no one was auditing” or checking where USAID money was going for “years, decades,” though the funding has been closely overseen by Congress, USAID, the Office of the Inspector General for USAID, and USAID’s partners through robust oversight mechanisms.
After gutting USAID and causing chaos and suffering worldwide, Pete Marocco is pushed out of the State Department
● Pete Marocco has left the State Department as of April 13, according to media reports. While the reason currently remains unclear, Marocco's departure, which was reportedly not voluntary, signals ongoing turbulence in U.S. foreign aid policy under the Trump administration. At this time, it is unknown if he will assume another role within the administration. Jeremy Lewin, DOGE team member acting as USAID Deputy Administrator, is reportedly replacing Marocco at State.
● Between 2018-2020, the first Trump administration appointed Marocco to four different positions in four years at the State Department, Commerce Department, Defense Department, and USAID, with short tenures at each due to his mismanagement and mistreatment of staff.
● During his first tenure at USAID, Marocco’s directives led to “significant waste” of resources and made USAID “less rapid, less trusted, and less efficient” by halting funds to programs and disrupting operations, according to staff dissent.
● Following his failure to impose cuts on USAID during the first Trump administration, Marocco has been a key player in the dismantling and shutdown of USAID during the second Trump administration, causing millions of people around the world unnecessary suffering, in addition to thousands of estimated preventable deaths from tuberculosis and AIDS alone, while millions more are estimated to die without U.S. aid, subsequently making the U.S. less safe, less strong, and less prosperous.
○ During his most recent tenure at State, Morocco ran the Office of Foreign
Assistance (called “F”), and directed that it be the only entity able to clear
documents or conduct congressional briefings on any Foreign Assistance matters.
○ This modus operandi not only blocked Congress from doing their oversight duty with respect to foreign assistance, but severely hindered oversight generally, as State Department officials were blocked from briefing Congress on a wide variety of the State Department’s work. “F” was also often reportedly making decisions—with respect to foreign assistance funding—unilaterally, without consulting the Secretary or his staff.
The Trump administration plans a $2.1 billion slush fund for their political priorities on the back of cuts to Congressionally-directed programs
● In his last week, Pete Marocco sent a memo dated April 10, 2025 to Secretary of State Marco Rubio reporting OMB’s recommended funding for State and “former USAID activities”, assuming “USAID will be integrated into State.”
○ Funding for foreign assistance would be only $16.9 billion, a 56% decrease from the prior year. For diplomatic engagement, over $98 million would be added to absorb USAID. This would include $49 million for Embassy security, construction, and routine maintenance that would purportedly consolidate USAID’s facility expenses plus $49.7 million for a Capital Investment Fund to facilitate the transfer of USAID systems into the State Department.
● Funding would be eliminated for:
○ More than 20 organizations including the UN, NATO, and OAS
○ Contributions for international Peacekeeping Operations with the exception of the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai
○ Educational and cultural exchange programs, including the Fulbright program and other Congressional priorities
○ Enduring Welcome—the program that resettles our Afghan allies—would be shuttered immediately, while the Afghan relocation (CARE) program would be shut down by the end of FY25
○ Title II Food for Peace, a program defined by the Food for Peace Act of 2008 to provide U.S. agricultural commodities for emergency relief
○ USAID’s Transition Initiatives and Complex Crises Fund accounts
● Funding would be reduced for humanitarian assistance and global health:
○ $4 billion (55% decrease) for humanitarian aid, with a proposition to merge the International Disaster Assistance and Migration and Refugee Assistance
authorities and funding into a new International Humanitarian Assistance
account, managed by a new Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance at State
○ $4.6 billion (54% decrease) for global health programs, which would sustain some treatment for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, but zero for family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, vulnerable children, the Global Health Worker Initiative, Neglected Tropical Diseases, GAVI, Maternal Child Health, or the Health Reserve Fund.
● Instead, a $2.1 billion “America First Opportunities Fund” would be established as a new Treasury account to “provide targeted support for economic and development assistance for enduring and emerging Trump Administration priorities and include broad authorities and flexibility.”
Consistent Topline Talking Points (April 1, 2025)
Preserving Foreign Assistance as a U.S. Foreign Policy Tool
● An effort from the Trump administration and Congress to reform and streamline U.S. foreign assistance is welcome, but the approach taken to date is not a serious reform effort: it is an ineffective, sloppy power grab that has—unintentionally or not—destroyed the U.S foreign assistance apparatus and deprived the U.S. of a critical soft-power tool. Foreign assistance keeps us safer here at home while demonstrating American generosity and saving millions of lives around the world.
● The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID have left the U.S. without the systems, experienced personnel, or partners necessary to responsibly and strategically implement foreign assistance—making the U.S. weaker, less safe, and less prosperous.
● Due to the way in which USAID has been dismantled, it will take years to rebuild the capacity that has been critical support for countries to make progress on development and respond to humanitarian crises. At the same time, trust in the U.S. as a reliable partner is now in question around the world, as U.S. adversaries step in to fill the void.
● Americans agree: foreign assistance is a powerful U.S. soft-power tool and 89 percent of Americans support spending at least 1 percent of our federal budget on foreign aid. As we’ve seen, USAID is the first but not the last of this Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Federal Government. For this reason, Congress must halt these illegal actions by DOGE and instead implement a more strategic, sensible reform effort that restores the legislative branch’s important oversight function.
USAID: The first, but not the last
● USAID is the playbook for President Trump and Elon Musk’s plan for a rapid and potentially illegal overhaul of the U.S. government. This is being done without the Congressional approval and oversight required for those agencies codified by statute. Reform is welcome, but what DOGE is doing is not reform, it is taking a sledgehammer to destroy a vital tool of U.S. national security.
● Rep. Bacon (R-NE) underscored this in his comments to the Wall Street Journal: “[USAID was] funding a lot of stupid stuff—that’s a fact. But they’re also doing a lot of good stuff too. So you don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead of taking a sledgehammer, let’s get out the scalpel.”
● Instead of undertaking a reform effort—working closely with Congress as is required by law—DOGE has taken a “burn it all down” approach including mass firings and major infringements on Congress’s power of the purse. This may work for tech firms, but it is a dangerous approach for government institutions that must remain accountable to taxpayers, enforce laws, and deliver public goods.
Current Impact
American Economy and Jobs
● Confirmed Job Losses: 19,003 Americans have lost their jobs, been furloughed, or placed on administrative leave. 171,818 jobs globally (non-American) have been lost as of April 15, 2025.
Health
● In South Sudan, at least five children and three adults with cholera died as they went in search of treatment after aid cuts by the Trump administration shuttered local health clinics during the country’s worst cholera outbreak in decades, according to Save the Children. A U.S.-funded transport service that took patients to hospital was also shut down due to a lack of funds. They died on a grueling three-hour walk in 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) as they tried to reach the nearest remaining health facility.
● The Trump administration’s funding cuts have put essential sexual and reproductive healthcare at risk for millions worldwide, which will result in an estimated additional 3,844 maternal deaths, over 3 million unintended pregnancies, and 756,010 unsafe abortions, according to the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
● Cuts to USAID and CDC will lead to more sickness in the U.S., according to infectious diseases physician Pavithra Natarajan. Natarajan assesses that while education, health care, and public health is stripped in the name of efficiency, Americans are increasingly vulnerable to infectious diseases, epidemics, and pandemics, including to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda where USAID cuts have hampered response efforts.
National Security
● On April 8, Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee drafted a letter to Secretary Rubio detailing how the actions taken to dismantle USAID are unconstitutional and result in a serious threat to national security, as such actions limit U.S. global leadership and influence.
● In a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 9, U.S. INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo highlighted the importance of USAID’s presence in the Pacific. When asked if the U.S. was missing opportunities with the Trump administration's assault on USAID and by not using the Coast Guard to full effect in the Pacific Islands, Admiral Paparo responded by saying "USAID aid is under review, and I'll be advocating most strongly for that aid for all of the countries, and the Coast Guard provides a critical role in the South Pacific.” On April 3, U.S. AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee where he highlighted similar concerns, underscoring that China was actively working to exploit the dismantling of USAID programs across Africa.
Humanitarian Assistance
● The Trump administration previously canceled significant contracts with MANA Nutrition and Edesia Nutrition, two nonprofits that produce Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat malnutrition in children, which resulted in factory shutdowns, delayed shipments, staffing reductions, and jeopardized the health of millions of children reliant on life-saving nutrition assistance. British philanthropist Chris Hohn, through the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, has provided temporary financial support to MANA to maintain critical therapeutic food production. However, both organizations emphasized that philanthropy cannot replace stable, long-term government funding.
Democracy, Rights, and Governance
● In Venezuela, the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts have severely impacted Venezuelan civil society. According to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), hundreds of civil society organizations now face the choice of going underground, relocating abroad, or shutting down operations. WOLA reports that the White House’s efforts to discredit USAID and other channels of foreign funding have emboldened Venezuelan authorities, who have long sought to justify a crackdown against internationally funded human rights monitors and aid groups.
Energy and Infrastructure
● Speaking at the annual Power Africa Summit on March 6, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke about Africa’s “massively” vast energy needs and vowed U.S. support. The Trump administration has since eliminated the Power Africa initiative—managed by USAID—undercutting its own energy goals.
○ Power Africa had “accelerated the completion” of 164 different energy-related projects across the continent. By halting Power Africa, a reported $26.4 billion in deals with U.S. companies are now in jeopardy. The American companies with deals at-risk provide critical capacity and support, including substation equipment, gas turbines, and solar panels. While some of these projects may continue without Power Africa, some assess that other projects are likely to hit roadblocks. With Power Africa’s work discontinued, others may seek to fill the void, including China.
Additional Resources for Information and Messaging
● U.S. Foreign Aid Updates by Foreign Policy for America
● DOGE Cuts by City, State, and Congressional District by Center for American Progress
● The Impact Map provides data on policy, funding, workforce changes, and local effects
● Musk Watch Doge Tracker of what is being cut and who is being impacted