A Farewell to Foreign Aid: Bush, Obama, and Bono Mourn Closure of USAID Amid Political Firestorm

In a poignant and politically charged moment, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, alongside international activist and U2 frontman Bono, addressed the now-former employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the decades-old agency was officially shuttered. The closure, initiated under the Trump administration, followed a sweeping federal probe into allegations of mismanagement, inefficiency, and ideological bias within the organization.

Appearing via videoconference, Bush, Obama, and Bono delivered heartfelt messages to staff during a private farewell event. While the media were not present, excerpts of the gathering have surfaced, revealing an emotional farewell from longtime champions of the agency’s mission.

“Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy,” said Obama in a recorded video message. “This is some of the most vital work being done anywhere in the world. Shutting it down isn’t just a mistake—it’s a colossal mistake.”

Obama, who had previously avoided commenting directly on USAID’s fate, used the moment to both commend the agency’s legacy and criticize the political decisions that led to its demise. “Eventually, I believe leaders across the political spectrum will understand just how needed you still are,” he added.

Former President George W. Bush, known for his PEPFAR initiative to combat HIV/AIDS globally—an effort that relied heavily on USAID—also broke his silence on the issue. Bush emphasized the life-saving role the agency played under his administration and the long-term benefits of its work.

“You’ve shown the world the strength of America, and that strength lies in your good heart,” Bush said. “Was it in our national interest that 25 million people are alive today who might not have been? I believe it was. And so do you.”

Bono, who has long worked alongside USAID on global development and public health projects, offered a more poetic farewell. Reading an original piece written for the occasion, he mourned the loss of an institution he said had made a difference in millions of lives.

“They called you crooks,” Bono read. “When you were the best of us.”

The closure of USAID, founded in 1961 during the Kennedy administration, marks the end of an era in American foreign assistance. Initially created to combat poverty, foster global stability, and promote democracy, USAID became the leading U.S. government agency for foreign development and humanitarian aid.

However, in early 2025, it became one of the first targets of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative designed to identify and eliminate what the administration viewed as systemic waste in the federal government. DOGE’s first director, Elon Musk, publicly lambasted USAID as an ideologically driven bureaucracy. He described it as “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America.”

By July 1, USAID was officially absorbed into the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who served as acting administrator during the agency’s final weeks, confirmed that all future foreign assistance would be managed under his department.

“USAID created an international nonprofit empire with little accountability to taxpayers,” Rubio stated. “Despite billions spent since the Cold War, the agency has little to show for its efforts. In many regions, instability has increased, and anti-American sentiment has deepened.”

Rubio continued, “This era of bloated, inefficient foreign aid has come to an end. The Trump administration is committed to a leaner, more strategic approach—one that serves American interests first.”

In his March address to Congress, Trump applauded DOGE’s efforts, citing over $22 billion in “government waste” uncovered. He highlighted several USAID projects he deemed frivolous or ideologically excessive.

“Forty-five million for diversity and equity scholarships in Burma,” Trump said mockingly. “Forty million to support the social inclusion of sedentary migrants—whatever that means. Eight million to promote LGBTQI+ causes in Lesotho—most people haven’t even heard of Lesotho.”

He continued, “Sixty million for Afro-Colombian empowerment, and yes, even eight million to make mice transgender. Folks, we’re cleaning it all up.”

Despite the criticisms and budget figures, many global health and humanitarian experts argue that such programs—while complex and sometimes imperfect—provided essential support in regions plagued by poverty, disease, and conflict. For them, the end of USAID is more than a bureaucratic shift; it’s a dismantling of a legacy.

The closure has ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum. Supporters of the decision hail it as a long-overdue correction to decades of unchecked spending. Opponents see it as a retreat from America’s moral leadership and a blow to vulnerable populations worldwide.

As the virtual farewell concluded, Bush, Obama, and Bono each encouraged USAID employees to remain proud of their work.

“You may be leaving your agency,” Obama said, “but you’re not leaving behind your mission. That work continues—because the world still needs you.