Arabic version: مسؤول سابق في الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية الدولية يكشف تأثير تخفيضات إدارة ترامب
Nicholas Enrich, a former USAID official, has published a critical account detailing the devastating effects of funding cuts made by the Trump administration on the agency. According to The Guardian, Enrich’s book, titled *Into the Wood Chipper*, chronicles the dismantling of USAID and the impact on global health initiatives.
Enrich, who worked in Kenya in 2003, witnessed the US government’s significant commitment to combat HIV. However, upon the Trump administration’s arrival, he observed a drastic shift in policy. Within days of taking office in January 2021, Trump paused USAID funding, and by July, over 80% of the agency’s programs had been canceled, leading to its merger with the State Department.
The book highlights the consequences of these cuts, with organizations like Oxfam estimating that approximately 23 million children could lose access to education and up to 95 million people might be deprived of basic healthcare. Enrich describes the transition as a ‘wrecking ball’ that replaced experienced staff with individuals lacking relevant expertise.
In his memoir, Enrich emphasizes the need for public servants to speak out against harmful policies, reflecting on the challenges faced by those within the agency during this tumultuous period. He argues that the cuts not only harmed global health efforts but also neglected the lessons learned from previous emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
