(A)Political - February 8th

Good morning everyone,

Lots of government departments are getting a complete makeover (reduction), and I’m here to break it down!

The vast majority of USAID staff and aid has come to a grinding halt, as acting director of USAID and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has administered the cuts. US AG Pam Bondi is targeting Illinois and each city within that abides by sanctuary laws. Tom Homan gave an exclusive interview to ABC where he detailed that the U.S. military could see kinetic conflict with Mexican drug cartels.

• USAID Gets The Axe (Mostly)

• DOJ Crosshairs: Sanctuary Cities, States, and Laws

• Border Czar Message To Cartels: Expect Violence

• We got hundreds of emails, and we just dropped some merch after you all asked us to restock. All profits from this merch sale go towards the LA Firefighters Foundation!
  You can get it at our shop here.

USAID Gets The Axe (Mostly)

_{By: Atlas}

USAID, responsible for distributing aid to over 130 countries in 2023, is now barely functional. Less than 300 staff remain out of an org that spanned over 10,000 employees. This occurred just weeks into the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) in cutting out “fat” in D.C.. In early 2025, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) underwent what many consider the most dramatic transformation in its 63-year history. Under directives from the Trump administration and with support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, USAID found itself stripped of its independence and absorbed into the State Department, marking a fundamental shift in America's approach to foreign aid distribution.

The agency's website went dark on a Saturday evening, replaced by a stripped-down version hosted on the State Department's domain. This technical change stated a broader takeover: the dismantling of what critics had long described as a sprawling bureaucracy that had strayed far from its original mission of combating global poverty and hunger.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The scope of USAID's previous influence was immense. Before its restructuring, the agency funded over 6,200 journalists across 707 media outlets and 279 media-focused NGOs worldwide. Its 2025 foreign aid budget had included $268,376,000 allocated specifically for "independent media and the free flow of information." These numbers, revealed in a now-offline USAID fact sheet, highlight the extensive reach the agency had developed in global media operations alone.

The agency's political leanings had become increasingly apparent. Analysis showed that among USAID employees, 98% of political donations went to Democratic candidates, with a particular concentration of support for specific progressive causes. This stark imbalance became a focal point for critics arguing that the agency had evolved into a partisan operation rather than a neutral distributor of humanitarian aid.

Global Ripple Effects

The restructuring sent shockwaves through the international development community. Organizations that had relied on USAID funding found themselves scrambling to secure alternative sources of support. The International Fund for Public Interest Media and numerous smaller outlets operating in countries like Iran and Russia faced immediate uncertainty about their future operations.

Bill Gates, whose foundation had extensive partnerships with USAID in areas of nutrition and vaccine distribution, made several media appearances expressing concern about the agency's transformation. During an appearance on NBC's Today Show, Gates argued that the agency's work "wasn't partisan," though this claim stood in contrast to documented donation patterns among agency employees.

The New Framework

Under the restructuring, USAID's remaining operations were placed under direct State Department oversight, with Secretary Rubio assuming the role of Acting Administrator. This move represented more than a mere administrative shuffle – it signaled a fundamental shift in how America approaches foreign aid distribution.

The new framework emphasized increased oversight of grant distributions and a more focused approach to aid delivery. Projects would now require clear alignment with direct U.S. foreign policy objectives, moving away from what critics had termed "soft power" initiatives that had characterized much of USAID's previous work.

Beyond the Headlines

The transformation of USAID reflects a broader shift in American foreign policy. As noted by analysts, this change represents America's adaptation to an increasingly multipolar world order. Marco Rubio's statement about the "postwar global order" being "not just obsolete" but "a weapon being used against us" encapsulates the reasoning behind these dramatic changes.

The restructuring also addressed concerns about the agency's involvement in various controversial programs. Under previous leadership, USAID had expanded into areas far beyond its original mandate, including climate change initiatives, global DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, and what critics termed "identity ideology" projects.

Looking Ahead

The future of American foreign aid under this new structure remains a subject of intense debate. Supporters of the changes argue that the restructuring will lead to more efficient, focused aid delivery that better serves both American interests and genuine humanitarian needs. Critics, including numerous international NGOs, warn of potential humanitarian gaps and decreased American soft power influence globally.

What's clear is that the transformation of USAID represents more than just an administrative reorganization – it signals a fundamental shift in how America engages with the world. As one analysis noted, this could mark "one of the most significant shifts in international relations since the fall of the Soviet Union."

The Path Forward

The restructuring of USAID under Rubio’s instruction suggests a streamlined approach to foreign aid, with increased emphasis on transparency and alignment with explicit foreign policy objectives. This new direction appears to prioritize measurable outcomes over broad-based influence operations, though the long-term implications of this shift remain to be seen.

For the international development community, this transformation necessitates adaptation to a new reality where American foreign aid comes with clearer conditions and oversight. Some international leaders are already accepting the wakeup call. The former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, spoke publicly about the matter in a press conference “why are you crying, it’s not your government, it’s not your country. He has no reason to give you everything. You don’t pay taxes in America…This is a wakeup call for you.” Although the sentiment might not be shared by every world leader dependent on USAID, Trump is shedding no tears publicly on the reduction of aid.

This seismic shift in American foreign aid policy reflects a larger reassessment of America's role in the world. As the global order continues to evolve toward multipolarity, the transformation of USAID may be remembered as a crucial milestone in the redefinition of American foreign policy in the 21st century.

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