As Donald Trump officially shuts down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), his political rivals and other critics have shared their opinions on this controversial move from his administration. Barack Obama described the USAID dismantling as “a colossal mistake.”
Former President George W. Bush also delivered a rare criticism, while singer Bono recited a poem, giving his two cents on this move. Monday, June 30, was the last day for USAID as an independent agency. Created by President John F. Kennedy, this six-decade-old humanitarian and development organization aimed to promote U.S. national security in a peaceful way through boosting prosperity and goodwill abroad.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed the agency to be absorbed into the State Department. Parts of a tearful farewell video with the USAID staffers were shared with The Associated Press.
A closed-press videoconference was organized as the agency shut down, allowing political leaders and others to speak with the community one last time. Former Presidents Bush and Obama thanked the thousands of staffers who had all lost their jobs and lives for dedicating their lives to USAID.
“Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come,” said Obama in a recorded statement. He has also reassured the domestic and overseas aid and development workers that their dedication matters.
He added, “Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy. Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world.”
🚨NEW: President Obama slams Trump for cutting USAID in a message to workers on their last day: “Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy. Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world.”
RETWEET if you stand with @BarackObama! pic.twitter.com/Tk8y8ZYytv
— Protect Kamala Harris ✊ (@DisavowTrump20) July 1, 2025
Although for most of Donald Trump‘s second term, Obama maintained a low profile, rarely delivering harsh criticism, he couldn’t keep quiet after thousands of workers once again lost jobs as part of Trump’s controversial federal reshaping.
On this day, the former Democratic President warned that “sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realize how much USID is invested.
Echoing Obama, Bush told the staffers, “You’ve showed the great strength of America through your work — and that is your good heart.” He added, “Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.”
🚨NEW: President George W. Bush criticizes Trump for cutting USAID in a message to its employees:
“You’ve showed the great strength of America through your work…Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.” pic.twitter.com/nKjcLVr6AQ
— Protect Kamala Harris ✊ (@DisavowTrump20) July 1, 2025
Not only American leaders, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former Colombian President Juan Manual Santos, and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield also expressed their appreciation for the USAID workers.
Singer Bono, who has been a longtime humanitarian advocate in Africa and other places, also spoke with the staffers as a special guest. At Monday’s unofficial gathering, he recited a poem he had written, reflecting on the importance of the work done at USAID.
He jokingly hailed the staffers as “secret agents of international development”. Bono said, “They called you crooks. When you were the best of us.”
Experts have predicted that, as part of the U.S. funding cuts, with USAID shut down, millions of people could die as foreign health and other programs face real challenges.
