Bush, Obama Join Forces To Criticize Closing Of USAID By Trump

USAID’s closure comes after DOGE led the charge in early 2025 to root out federal waste. Trump has praised DOGE repeatedly, including during a March address to Congress where he celebrated $22 billion in identified waste, including massive spending at USAID.

“Forty-five million dollars for diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships in Burma,” Trump said, listing examples. “Forty million to improve the social and economic inclusion of sedentary migrants. Nobody knows what that is.

“Eight million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of. Sixty million dollars for indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian empowerment in Central America. Sixty million. Eight million for making mice transgender,” he added.