Bush, Obama, Bono Speak Out as USAID Is Dismantled

Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama joined rock star Bono on Monday in a rare joint statement, offering support to USAID employees and criticizing President Trump’s decision to shut down the agency amid a federal investigation into waste and corruption. Their remarks come on the eve of USAID’s absorption into the State Department.

---

Emotional Appeals from Former Leaders

In a video address to USAID staff, Barack Obama called the decision to dismantle the agency “a travesty” and “a tragedy.” He emphasized that USAID’s foreign aid work is among the most critical efforts the United States undertakes around the world. “Colossal mistake,” he added, warning that in time, leaders on both sides of the aisle would come to see just how indispensable the agency has been.

George W. Bush—who generally avoids public criticism of his successors—focused on legacy. He framed the closure as ending a chapter he was deeply invested in: the global fight against AIDS. He reminded staff that USAID efforts have been credited with saving tens of millions of lives. “You’ve shown the great strength of America through your work—and that is your good heart,” he said.

Bono, appearing alongside them, read a poem he composed for the occasion. His tone was somber. “They called you crooks when you were the best of us,” he intoned, warning that the dismantling of USAID could precipitate widespread suffering in vulnerable nations.

The Associated Press reported that Bono and Obama were visibly emotional, while Bush maintained a steadier, statesmanlike presence. According to insiders, the message from all three was clear: the United States is losing more than an aid agency—it is losing a moral investment abroad.

---

USAID’s Demise and the Creation of DOGE

USAID—established in the 1960s as a vehicle for U.S. foreign economic and humanitarian assistance—had become a symbolic figure of America’s global outreach. But earlier this year, it became a target of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era instrument charged with rooting out waste in federal spending.

Elon Musk, the former head of DOGE, reportedly called USAID “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America.” That rhetoric set the stage for what followed.

On Tuesday, USAID was formally dissolved and its functions folded into the State Department. The move was rapid, signaling both urgency and finality. As of July 1, USAID is no longer operating as a standalone agency; going forward, foreign assistance programs will be centralized under state control.

---

Mixed Reactions and Political Stakes

As part of the shift, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who briefly acted as USAID administrator during its final phase, declared that the new structure would be more accountable and aligned with American interests. He cited longstanding criticisms of USAID: that development goals were rarely reached, instability in recipient countries sometimes worsened, and anti-American sentiment on the ground had grown.

Rubio argued that as of now, USAID will cease implementation of foreign aid, and only programs deemed consistent with Trump’s policies will persist under the State Department umbrella.

Critics see deeper motives. Many view the move as political theater—an effort to dismantle a signature foreign policy tool of previous administrations, and to reassert control over how global aid is exercised and portrayed. The former presidents’ comments, combined with Bono’s cultural voice, have elevated the closure into a symbolic, moral battlefield.

---

Legacy, Symbol, and Remedy

For many USAID employees, the dismantling feels personal. The agency’s dissolution signals not just job loss or restructuring, but a shift in national values. Bush invoked his own political and humanitarian legacy, while Obama reminded staff and the public of humanitarian missions that transcended partisan divides.

Bono’s participation underscored the notion that USAID’s work was not merely bureaucratic—it was rooted in empathy, justice, and global solidarity. His poetic framing sought to name the closure as an act with human consequences, not just budgetary reallocation.

Yet the Trump administration and its supporters defend the move as necessary reform. They point to alleged excesses, misallocations, and ideological bias as justification for sweeping change. In this narrative, the consolidation is a long-overdue correction, not a political purge.

The result is a clash of frames: one side condemns the closure as a moral failure and betrayal of America’s global commitments; the other views it as pragmatic governance and budget discipline.

---

Looking Forward

In the months ahead, several questions loom:

• How will foreign governments and NGOs respond to the change in U.S. aid architecture?

• Will the consolidation under State lead to cuts, delays, or changes in funding priorities?

• Will political pressure, protests, or legal challenges force reconsideration, restoration, or reimagining of U.S. foreign assistance?

• What does this closure signal for other federal agencies long targeted for reform or elimination?

Whatever the answers, the joint appearance of Bush, Obama, and Bono has already made one thing clear: the collapse of USAID is more than administrative—it is symbolic, deeply political, and likely to reverberate overseas as much as it does domestically.

As one former president declared, sooner or later, leaders will realize how much USAID was needed. In the meantime, staff, partners abroad, and American audiences will reckon with the void it leaves behind.