Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has voiced strong opposition to the Trump administration’s recent closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Schumer warned that this action could be a precursor to further reductions in federal agencies, stating, “You can be sure they’ll move on to another target tomorrow.” He speculated that entities such as the Postal Service, the IRS, or the Social Security Administration might be next.
The administration’s decision to dismantle USAID, led by the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk, has been met with significant controversy. Critics argue that the move is illegal, as only Congress holds the authority to create or dissolve federal agencies. Despite these concerns, the Republican-controlled Congress has not publicly opposed the action.
In addition to his criticism of the USAID shutdown, Schumer is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for alleged threats made against Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch during a 2020 rally. The inquiry aims to determine whether Schumer’s comments violated federal laws against threatening public officials.
The closure of USAID has led to the suspension of numerous international aid programs, affecting billions of dollars in projects across over 120 countries. This has raised concerns about the potential negative impact on global health, education, and humanitarian efforts.
