A former leader at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has reflected on the agency's elimination in 2025, stating that the American public had limited understanding of its purpose and activities. The former official, who lost their job along with thousands of colleagues, believes this lack of public awareness was a key factor in USAID's downfall.
The 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) began its work in January 2025, targeting USAID first. Elon Musk, who called the agency a "criminal organisation" and "a viper’s nest of radical left-marxists who hate America," has since stated he would not repeat the campaign. The former leader suggests that Americans lacked the knowledge to counter the narrative presented by Musk.
Misconceptions about foreign aid were also prevalent. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in March 2025 found that 86% of adults overestimated the federal budget allocated to foreign aid, believing it to be around 26% on average, when it is approximately 1%.
The former leader contrasted USAID's situation with that of Nasa, suggesting Nasa's long-standing efforts in public communication and image cultivation have fostered broad public and congressional support. They highlighted USAID's challenges in communicating its complex international development work, such as its contributions to solving regional challenges in Colombia, including assisting Venezuelan migrants and supporting peace accords.