February 8, 2025
DAWN
The writer is an attorney teaching constitutional law and political philosophy
IT was a showdown for the ages. This past week, the Trump administration issued an order placing all workers of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave.
The direct-hire workers have been given 30 days to return to the United States. At the same time, employees of the now dreaded Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) went into the agency’s DC headquarters and prevented even its top administrators from entering the building. Employee access to their emails was also cut off. The branding of the agency on the building’s façade was removed.
In a seeming instant, and on questionable legal authority, an agency whose stated purpose was to help people around the world avoid famine and death had been wiped out. USAID represented less than one per cent of the total US federal budget.
There is a lot to say about this remarkable turnaround in American foreign policy. In terms of its effect on Pakistan, the Trump administration has also cut aid to crucial projects that were taking place under the auspices of USAID. This includes a programme that helped protect historical buildings, archaeological sites and museum collections. Five energy programmes have also been affected. It is unclear both how much aid in total the US was actually providing to Pakistan through the agency, and whether explicit disbursements (if any) by Congress would be affected.
In Pakistan, government employees are usually accustomed to the winds of change blowing every time the government changes. This is because most of them, especially in high posts, are political appointees. In the US, while there is a fair amount of political appointees, the government is largely run by career diplomats who keep things going in more or less the same way, regardless of which party is in power.
With every executive order directed at restructuring the government, from doing away with USAID to also possibly shuttering the Department of Education to mass firings at the Department of Justice, President Trump appears adamant on changing the bureaucratic landscape.
It seems every executive order from Trump is intended to change the landscape of the bureaucracy.
The vast review powers that have been given to DOGE or to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to check every programme and see if it fulfils the Trumpian agenda means that hundreds of thousands of the two million federal employees will be affected. Those who received an ominous letter titled ‘Fork in the Road’ had until this past Thursday to accept a resignation deal where they would be paid until September if they quit their job immediately. Uncertain of what lay ahead, nearly 40,000 employees had taken up the offer.
Beyond the immediate uncertainty that surrounds the American political scene lie crucial structural changes that are going to transform Washington’s foreign policy for the near future. The way in which USAID was scrapped is remarkably similar to how the DOGE chairman and the world’s richest man Elon Musk scrapped Twitter when he took over the social media platform and rebranded it as X.
His influence over the future of America cannot be underestimated at this point. Efforts by anyone, including the flailing Democrat senators and House members, to stop him in his tracks have so far yielded nothing and appear unlikely to have any effect. In a stand-off in which DOGE officials were demanding access to the Treasury, DOGE won and now has access to the most secret data and payment information of the US federal government.
USAID was established under the late president John F. Kennedy in 1961. While it undoubtedly had many programmes that helped deliver HIV drugs and food in disease-ridden and famine-hit areas across the world, the agency had also developed a chequered reputation after America’s failed nation-building efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq following its invasions.
Inspectors general who were responsible for oversight (and who have also all been fired) revealed that the agency was unable to account for hundreds of millions of dollars or was delivering them to autocratic leaders and dictators in corrupt, failing states rather than to the people they purported to help. For Trump, USAID had “been run by a bunch of radical lunatics”.
But at the same time, the aid agency was the primary instrument of America’s soft power, and its scrapping represents a harder turn where quid pro quo-type calculations will be the future face of the US. Beyond good or bad, it is true that the withdrawal of soft power does not yield immediate consequences, but rather exposes its deficits when the US actually needs assistance from a country that was abandoned after aid was cut.
It also allows other global players such as China to occupy the vacuum that is created by the exit of a powerful country, although Beijing, despite its foreign initiatives, is itself focused more on a domestic economic uplift agenda for the time being.
Every day seems to bring a new order of disruption in Washington. If the last Trump administration came in uncertain and bumbling, this one seems far more intent on doing what it promised — drastically cut down government institutions that have stood strong for decades, sometimes being commended and at other times drawing flak. For now, everything, including the world’s future, seems to depend on the whims of a single man.
rafia.zakaria@gmail.com
Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2025
IT was a showdown for the ages. This past week, the Trump administration issued an order placing all workers of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave.
The direct-hire workers have been given 30 days to return to the United States. At the same time, employees of the now dreaded Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) went into the agency’s DC headquarters and prevented even its top administrators from entering the building. Employee access to their emails was also cut off. The branding of the agency on the building’s façade was removed.
In a seeming instant, and on questionable legal authority, an agency whose stated purpose was to help people around the world avoid famine and death had been wiped out. USAID represented less than one per cent of the total US federal budget.
There is a lot to say about this remarkable turnaround in American foreign policy. In terms of its effect on Pakistan, the Trump administration has also cut aid to crucial projects that were taking place under the auspices of USAID. This includes a programme that helped protect historical buildings, archaeological sites and museum collections. Five energy programmes have also been affected. It is unclear both how much aid in total the US was actually providing to Pakistan through the agency, and whether explicit disbursements (if any) by Congress would be affected.
In Pakistan, government employees are usually accustomed to the winds of change blowing every time the government changes. This is because most of them, especially in high posts, are political appointees. In the US, while there is a fair amount of political appointees, the government is largely run by career diplomats who keep things going in more or less the same way, regardless of which party is in power.
With every executive order directed at restructuring the government, from doing away with USAID to also possibly shuttering the Department of Education to mass firings at the Department of Justice, President Trump appears adamant on changing the bureaucratic landscape.
It seems every executive order from Trump is intended to change the landscape of the bureaucracy.
The vast review powers that have been given to DOGE or to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to check every programme and see if it fulfils the Trumpian agenda means that hundreds of thousands of the two million federal employees will be affected. Those who received an ominous letter titled ‘Fork in the Road’ had until this past Thursday to accept a resignation deal where they would be paid until September if they quit their job immediately. Uncertain of what lay ahead, nearly 40,000 employees had taken up the offer.
Beyond the immediate uncertainty that surrounds the American political scene lie crucial structural changes that are going to transform Washington’s foreign policy for the near future. The way in which USAID was scrapped is remarkably similar to how the DOGE chairman and the world’s richest man Elon Musk scrapped Twitter when he took over the social media platform and rebranded it as X.
His influence over the future of America cannot be underestimated at this point. Efforts by anyone, including the flailing Democrat senators and House members, to stop him in his tracks have so far yielded nothing and appear unlikely to have any effect. In a stand-off in which DOGE officials were demanding access to the Treasury, DOGE won and now has access to the most secret data and payment information of the US federal government.
USAID was established under the late president John F. Kennedy in 1961. While it undoubtedly had many programmes that helped deliver HIV drugs and food in disease-ridden and famine-hit areas across the world, the agency had also developed a chequered reputation after America’s failed nation-building efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq following its invasions.
Inspectors general who were responsible for oversight (and who have also all been fired) revealed that the agency was unable to account for hundreds of millions of dollars or was delivering them to autocratic leaders and dictators in corrupt, failing states rather than to the people they purported to help. For Trump, USAID had “been run by a bunch of radical lunatics”.
But at the same time, the aid agency was the primary instrument of America’s soft power, and its scrapping represents a harder turn where quid pro quo-type calculations will be the future face of the US. Beyond good or bad, it is true that the withdrawal of soft power does not yield immediate consequences, but rather exposes its deficits when the US actually needs assistance from a country that was abandoned after aid was cut.
It also allows other global players such as China to occupy the vacuum that is created by the exit of a powerful country, although Beijing, despite its foreign initiatives, is itself focused more on a domestic economic uplift agenda for the time being.
Every day seems to bring a new order of disruption in Washington. If the last Trump administration came in uncertain and bumbling, this one seems far more intent on doing what it promised — drastically cut down government institutions that have stood strong for decades, sometimes being commended and at other times drawing flak. For now, everything, including the world’s future, seems to depend on the whims of a single man.
rafia.zakaria@gmail.com
Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2025
Sudden freeze
DONALD Trump’s recent decision to freeze US foreign aid for 90 days has sent shockwaves across South Asia, which has long depended on American assistance for economic development, healthcare, and humanitarian aid. While framed as a cost-cutting measure, this abrupt action could have grave consequences, not just for those directly dependent on aid but also for the geopolitical balance in one of the most strategically significant regions. In the aftermath of the announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did clarify that some categories of humanitarian assistance would continue.
South Asia, home to nearly two billion people, has historically been one of the largest recipients of US foreign assistance. From infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to counterterrorism aid in Pakistan and healthcare initiatives across the region, American investments have played a crucial role in economic stability and public health. By halting these programmes without warning, the Trump administration risks undoing years of progress and pushing vulnerable communities into deeper crisis.
Economic development is one of the most immediate casualties of Trump’s decision. The US has been instrumental in funding key infrastructure projects in the region. It has supported everything from roads and ports to clean energy initiatives. Without this funding, ongoing projects may be abandoned, leading to job losses and stalled economic growth. Trade relations, too, are at risk. Many South Asian economies, particularly India and Bangladesh, depend on exports to the US. The aid freeze comes at a time when Trump also wants to increase tariffs on imports like pharmaceuticals and textiles, which provide millions of jobs in the region.
Beyond economic setbacks, the impact on public health could be catastrophic. The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which funds HIV treatment and prevention programmes, has already begun scaling back services due to Trump’s action. Clinics in Bangladesh and Nepal are struggling to provide lifesaving medications, and testing programmes have been forced to shut down. This immediate disruption will lead to higher infection rates and an increase in preventable deaths. Additionally, food aid programmes supporting millions of malnourished children in Pakistan and Sri Lanka are now uncertain, leaving families with fewer resources to combat hunger and disease.
Foreign aid is an investment in stability and growth.
Perhaps most alarming is the potential humanitarian disaster in Bangladesh, where over a million Rohingya refugees rely heavily on international aid. The sudden freeze has put essential services, such as healthcare and sanitation in refugee camps, at risk. Without immediate alternative funding, overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar could become breeding grounds for disease and violence. This would further destabilise the situation.
The consequences extend beyond humanitarian concerns; they also have geopolitical implications. For years, the US has used foreign aid as a tool to maintain influence in South Asia and counter China’s growing presence. Now, with this assistance in question, regional countries may increasingly turn to Beijing, which has already invested billions in infrastructure projects through its Belt and Road Initiative. This shift could alter strategic alliances, giving China greater leverage over trade, security, and political decisions in South Asia. In Pakistan, where US aid has historical-
ly supported counterterrorism efforts, the freeze could weaken security cooperation at a time when regional stability is fragile.
Trump’s decision may have been driven by internal considerations, but its global impact cannot be ignored. Foreign aid is not just a charitable endeavour; it is an investment in stability, security, and economic growth for both the recipient and donor. By abruptly cutting off funding, the US risks creating long-term instability in a region that is already grappling with economic challenges, public health crises, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
For South Asia, the situation is uncertain. Governments and aid organisations will now have to scramble for alternative funding sources, whether from private donors, multilateral institutions, or regional allies. However, the damage may not be easily reversed.
In a world where influence is measured by investment and partnership, the US may find that its retreat from South Asia has left a vacuum that others — most notably China — are all too willing to fill.
The writer is chairperson, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission.
chairperson@navttc.gov.pk
Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2025
February 8, 2025
DAWN
DONALD Trump’s recent decision to freeze US foreign aid for 90 days has sent shockwaves across South Asia, which has long depended on American assistance for economic development, healthcare, and humanitarian aid. While framed as a cost-cutting measure, this abrupt action could have grave consequences, not just for those directly dependent on aid but also for the geopolitical balance in one of the most strategically significant regions. In the aftermath of the announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did clarify that some categories of humanitarian assistance would continue.
South Asia, home to nearly two billion people, has historically been one of the largest recipients of US foreign assistance. From infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to counterterrorism aid in Pakistan and healthcare initiatives across the region, American investments have played a crucial role in economic stability and public health. By halting these programmes without warning, the Trump administration risks undoing years of progress and pushing vulnerable communities into deeper crisis.
Economic development is one of the most immediate casualties of Trump’s decision. The US has been instrumental in funding key infrastructure projects in the region. It has supported everything from roads and ports to clean energy initiatives. Without this funding, ongoing projects may be abandoned, leading to job losses and stalled economic growth. Trade relations, too, are at risk. Many South Asian economies, particularly India and Bangladesh, depend on exports to the US. The aid freeze comes at a time when Trump also wants to increase tariffs on imports like pharmaceuticals and textiles, which provide millions of jobs in the region.
Beyond economic setbacks, the impact on public health could be catastrophic. The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which funds HIV treatment and prevention programmes, has already begun scaling back services due to Trump’s action. Clinics in Bangladesh and Nepal are struggling to provide lifesaving medications, and testing programmes have been forced to shut down. This immediate disruption will lead to higher infection rates and an increase in preventable deaths. Additionally, food aid programmes supporting millions of malnourished children in Pakistan and Sri Lanka are now uncertain, leaving families with fewer resources to combat hunger and disease.
Foreign aid is an investment in stability and growth.
Perhaps most alarming is the potential humanitarian disaster in Bangladesh, where over a million Rohingya refugees rely heavily on international aid. The sudden freeze has put essential services, such as healthcare and sanitation in refugee camps, at risk. Without immediate alternative funding, overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar could become breeding grounds for disease and violence. This would further destabilise the situation.
The consequences extend beyond humanitarian concerns; they also have geopolitical implications. For years, the US has used foreign aid as a tool to maintain influence in South Asia and counter China’s growing presence. Now, with this assistance in question, regional countries may increasingly turn to Beijing, which has already invested billions in infrastructure projects through its Belt and Road Initiative. This shift could alter strategic alliances, giving China greater leverage over trade, security, and political decisions in South Asia. In Pakistan, where US aid has historical-
ly supported counterterrorism efforts, the freeze could weaken security cooperation at a time when regional stability is fragile.
Trump’s decision may have been driven by internal considerations, but its global impact cannot be ignored. Foreign aid is not just a charitable endeavour; it is an investment in stability, security, and economic growth for both the recipient and donor. By abruptly cutting off funding, the US risks creating long-term instability in a region that is already grappling with economic challenges, public health crises, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
For South Asia, the situation is uncertain. Governments and aid organisations will now have to scramble for alternative funding sources, whether from private donors, multilateral institutions, or regional allies. However, the damage may not be easily reversed.
In a world where influence is measured by investment and partnership, the US may find that its retreat from South Asia has left a vacuum that others — most notably China — are all too willing to fill.
The writer is chairperson, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission.
chairperson@navttc.gov.pk
Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2025
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