There’s a strange sickness in this country—where we dismantle what works, just because some rich loudmouth decides it’s “wasteful.” And now, USAID—the agency that has helped millions of people around the world while keeping American farmers, contractors, and businesses employed—is on the chopping block.
You’d think small-town Marylanders wouldn’t care. But let me tell you—USAID buys American. It buys our corn, our wheat, our equipment. It opens markets that our farmers depend on. Without it, those opportunities disappear, and guess who takes our place? China.
USAID partners with the University of Maryland’s eastern shore and college park campuses to deliver its life-saving care. It also works with Johns Hopkins, 16 Maryland farmers and another 11 nonprofits in our state. All in all, nearly $1 Billion was spent in Maryland by USAID. These businesses and workers are all affected.
Do not be fooled that USAID only spends money abroad. Its total budget is less than 1% of the federal budget and only 0.13% of US GDP. It literally saves lives around the world, projects US soft power and SPENDS MOST OF ITS MONEY AT HOME.
Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, you know better. Don’t let Elon Musk’s Twitter tantrums dictate U.S. foreign policy. Stand up. Defend USAID. Because a strong, self-reliant America doesn’t shrink from the world—it leads it.
Sangeet Chowfla
Oxford MD
Dick Deerin says
Excellent letter. Trump and his co-president Musk are taking our great nation on a dangerous and destructive path.
Anne C Stalfort says
Our two senators have both spoken out against reducing funding for USAID. We all need to speak out, call Andy Harris, write letters to our representatives, show up – anything and everything to restore funding for the vital functions of our government. Congress voted for a budget that included the funding, but some rich buddy of Trump’s has decided to halt the distribution of the funds. I think we still live in a democracy. Let’s keep it.
Donna Callejón says
I’ve been glad to see Senator Van Hollen raise his voice loudly on this subject.
Michael Pullen says
Andy Harris, where are you?
Abandoning Americans in your District who have done nothing to deserve economic retribution by your silence and complicity in needlessly gutting USAID.
Waste, you say? Food rotting in ships holds, on docks and warehouses while farmers aren’t paid and children in war-torn countries are starving? USAID is less than 1/10th of 1% of the US budget.
Yes, there is waste being committed by this Administration and you remain silent, doing nothing, saying nothing, pretending this is good for your constituents here on the Eastern Shore.
Federal funding and grants for the Eastern Shore?
You voted against federal investment in rural broadband for the Eastern Shore every time.
But when that funding was approved by Congress and signed into law by Biden you brazenly claimed credit.
Fraud? That’s what it looks like.
Susan Delean-Botkin says
Exactly, Michael!
We must badger Harris on line, by phone and in person, if he would ever show up.
He is head of the Freedom Caucus and is instrumental in standing by and doing nothing while our government is being dismantled with a bulldozer!
Great place to safe money is Congress – they are not doing their job – so fire them!