Mon Jun 30 22:27:03 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Former Presidents Obama and Bush Decry Dismantling of USAID in Emotional Farewell**
**Washington D.C.** – In a rare bipartisan rebuke of the Trump administration, former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush have publicly criticized the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on its final day as an independent agency. In a videoconference with USAID staff, both presidents expressed their deep disappointment and concern over the agency’s absorption into the State Department, a move spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Obama called the dismantling a “colossal mistake,” emphasizing USAID’s crucial role in global economic growth and saving lives. He assured USAID workers that their work “has mattered and will matter for generations to come.” Bush highlighted the impact of USAID’s programs, particularly the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which his administration initiated and is credited with saving 25 million lives. He questioned the national interest in reducing such vital programs.
The Trump administration has accused USAID of being run by “radical left lunatics” and plagued by “tremendous fraud,” while Elon Musk labeled it a “criminal organization.” These accusations preceded mass layoffs and the abrupt locking of employees out of systems and offices.
U2 singer Bono also made an appearance, offering words of support and reciting a poem lamenting the agency’s closure and the impact on vulnerable populations worldwide.
The State Department responded by announcing the upcoming launch of USAID’s successor, “America First,” promising greater oversight and alignment with U.S. national interests.
Critics warn that the dismantling of USAID will have devastating consequences, with a Lancet study projecting over 14 million deaths in low- and middle-income countries due to cuts in vital health and development programs.
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