Trump Administration's Proposed USAID Cuts Threaten Catholic Relief Agency and Millions in Need

Trump Administration's Proposed Cuts Threaten Catholic Relief Agency

The Trump administration's proposed cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are putting the future of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a major Catholic relief agency, at risk. CRS is the largest recipient of funds from USAID, which funds around half of the agency's $1.5 billion budget.

Leaders of CRS have warned staff of major changes due to the proposed cuts, and layoffs have already begun. The agency's president and CEO, Sean Callahan, told staff that they anticipate being "a much smaller overall organization by the end of this fiscal year."

Observers of CRS argue that the White House's attacks on USAID go against Christian and American principles of supporting the less fortunate. CRS provides emergency and disaster assistance, as well as funding programs related to water, sanitation, agriculture, health, and other areas, serving an estimated 200 million people across over 100 countries.

During the campaign, Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, portrayed themselves as allies to U.S. Catholics. However, the proposed cuts to USAID contradict this message. Elon Musk, a Trump advisor, claimed that USAID and its partners are part of a "radical-left political psy op" and that the agency should be shut down.

The Trump administration's actions have been met with protests from Democrats, who have rallied outside USAID headquarters and threatened to withhold future State Department confirmations until the agency's funding is restored.