February 12, 2025

Duckworth Outlines How Trump’s Attack on USAID is Hurting National Security and All Americans

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—outlined how President Donald Trump’s illegal foreign assistance freeze and dismantling of USAID undermines our national security, empowers our adversaries and jeopardizes Americans’ economic security. Her discussion with the panel highlighted how USAID programs abroad help improve the global competitiveness of American products. Video of Duckworth’s full remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

“Donald Trump promised he’d lower costs and keep Americans safe, but his attack on USAID is doing the opposite: hurting our national security and empowering our adversaries,” Duckworth said. “The only people winning here are our adversaries and those who thrive on chaos—whether that be the PRC, Russia or Elon Musk. Meanwhile, Trump’s destructive actions are causing real harm to people’s lives and their livelihoods.”

Duckworth has repeatedly called out President Donald Trump and his Administration’s illegal attack on USAID. Last week, Duckworth led her fellow SFRC Democratic colleagues in demanding immediate answers from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on how much it will cost American taxpayers to pull USAID workers off the job overseas and relocate them back to the United States. Duckworth also spoke out against Trump’s ongoing illegal power grabs—including the shuttering of USAID—on the Senate floor as part of Senate Democrats’ 30-hour protest opposing Project 2025 architect Russell Vought’s nomination to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As a result of Trump’s ongoing lawlessness, Duckworth also announced that she will be a blanket-no on all remaining top-level cabinet nominees.

-30-