Former US Ambassador addresses ‘disturbing’ shutdown of USAID

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — There’s been a great deal of discussion about the shutdown of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of Elon Musk and President Trump’s cost-cutting efforts.

USAID was on the front lines of America’s foreign aid, especially in the areas of food assistance, disaster relief and heath. But its domestic offices are now closed and most of its programs in 100 countries around the world are no longer supported. USAID managed more than $40 billion – far less than 1% of the US budget – with more than 10,000 employees mostly overseas and about 1,400 in Washington D.C.

Former U.S. Ambassador Niels Marquardt has a stake in what’s happening with USAID. A Lewis & Clark College graduate, he’s now Diplomat in Residence at the college.

Marquardt was ambassador to several African nations including Cameroon and Madagascar and before that, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire and Rwanda. His final posting was as US Council General in Sydney, Australia.

Marquardt joined Eye on Northwest Politics to share his thoughts on USAID being a target of the Trump administration, as well as the impact its shutdown could have around the world and here in Oregon.

Watch the full interview in the video above.