Republican Rep. Mike McCaul has called on the Trump administration to act swiftly in allowing vital aid programs to continue worldwide, despite ongoing efforts to restructure the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Sources have revealed that US-funded aid initiatives have faced significant disruptions, contradicting Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertions that the US remains committed to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance. Rubio, who currently serves as the acting administrator of USAID, recently issued a waiver to ensure the continuation of essential programs during the administration's 90-day freeze on most US aid.
McCaul, a former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee, specifically highlighted the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief as a program that could benefit from Rubio's waiver, which includes provisions for core life-saving medications.
Expressing his concerns, McCaul emphasized the need for prompt action, stating, 'The implementation of this is where I would urge the administration to move more expeditiously.'
McCaul also mentioned that the UN's World Food Programme has already begun utilizing waivers, ensuring the distribution of food aid. He underscored the importance of global food assistance in promoting stability in fragile regions, countering the influence of other global powers, and combating terrorism.
Defending the Trump administration's comprehensive review of USAID, McCaul argued that the restructuring efforts would ultimately realign the agency with its core mission, enhancing its effectiveness in delivering aid and advancing US diplomatic interests.
