US Admits USAID Used for Regime Change, Vindicating Zimbabwe's View.
The Trump administration has acknowledged that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was used to promote regime change in several countries. This admission supports Zimbabwe's long-held view of the organization.
The Republican administration quickly moved to close USAID's Washington, DC offices after taking office on January 20. They argued USAID had been used to incite coups and protests and fund opposition parties and activists.
Elon Musk called USAID a "criminal organization" after President Trump appointed him to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This came after security officials reportedly denied his cost-cutting task force access to key files.
Musk said USAID should "die" amid reports two top USAID security officials were put on leave for refusing access to classified materials.
In a January 20 executive order, President Trump paused most US foreign aid for 90 days. He said the "foreign aid industry and bureaucracy" often oppose American interests and values.
"They serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations," the order stated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is acting USAID director following the sudden pause on foreign spending and layoffs at the 63-year-old agency.
The US administration's observations align with Zimbabwe's view that USAID has been an agent of regime change in Harare since 2000. USAID has funded shadowy civil society groups that emerge around elections or UN conferences to discredit the government under the guise of human rights.
Zimbabwe has consistently flagged concerns over USAID, which claims it provided over $3 billion in aid since independence to support "democratic institutions and actors" for free and fair elections.
The US admitted in 2018 that quasi-political civil society groups it funded in Zimbabwe for "democratic activities" misused the money. The US suspended their funding and reported it to the USAID Inspector General.
The Inspector General investigates abuse of USAID programs. Groups implicated include the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, Election Resource Centre, and Counselling Services Unit, which all deal with political issues.
Acting US Embassy spokesperson John Taylor acknowledged the funds were misused.
USAID's questionable activities are well-documented globally. It built a fake Cuban Twitter platform, "ZunZuneo," to feed users anti-government content. It funded opposition groups in Venezuela trying to overthrow Presidents Chávez and Maduro. It poured money into Ukrainian opposition groups and media in 2014. USAID has been accused of meddling in Bolivia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and more.
USAID was founded in 1961 and manages billions in global humanitarian aid. But its work was upended last week as the Trump administration halted nearly all programs and took down its website.
The Trump administration has acknowledged that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was used to promote regime change in several countries. This admission supports Zimbabwe's long-held view of the organization.
The Republican administration quickly moved to close USAID's Washington, DC offices after taking office on January 20. They argued USAID had been used to incite coups and protests and fund opposition parties and activists.
Elon Musk called USAID a "criminal organization" after President Trump appointed him to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This came after security officials reportedly denied his cost-cutting task force access to key files.
Musk said USAID should "die" amid reports two top USAID security officials were put on leave for refusing access to classified materials.
In a January 20 executive order, President Trump paused most US foreign aid for 90 days. He said the "foreign aid industry and bureaucracy" often oppose American interests and values.
"They serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations," the order stated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is acting USAID director following the sudden pause on foreign spending and layoffs at the 63-year-old agency.
The US administration's observations align with Zimbabwe's view that USAID has been an agent of regime change in Harare since 2000. USAID has funded shadowy civil society groups that emerge around elections or UN conferences to discredit the government under the guise of human rights.
Zimbabwe has consistently flagged concerns over USAID, which claims it provided over $3 billion in aid since independence to support "democratic institutions and actors" for free and fair elections.
The US admitted in 2018 that quasi-political civil society groups it funded in Zimbabwe for "democratic activities" misused the money. The US suspended their funding and reported it to the USAID Inspector General.
The Inspector General investigates abuse of USAID programs. Groups implicated include the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, Election Resource Centre, and Counselling Services Unit, which all deal with political issues.
Acting US Embassy spokesperson John Taylor acknowledged the funds were misused.
USAID's questionable activities are well-documented globally. It built a fake Cuban Twitter platform, "ZunZuneo," to feed users anti-government content. It funded opposition groups in Venezuela trying to overthrow Presidents Chávez and Maduro. It poured money into Ukrainian opposition groups and media in 2014. USAID has been accused of meddling in Bolivia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and more.
USAID was founded in 1961 and manages billions in global humanitarian aid. But its work was upended last week as the Trump administration halted nearly all programs and took down its website.
