InterAction Statement on the Consolidation of USAID and Department of State

WASHINGTON, D.C. – InterAction released the following statement on the consolidation of USAID and the Department of State.

Since 1961, USAID has been on the frontlines of saving lives and ensuring U.S. influence in key regions and countries, projecting U.S. soft power around the world. We are grateful to the thousands of dedicated USAID staff who have devoted their careers—and risked their lives—on behalf of American taxpayers. These professionals are friends, colleagues, and partners, many of whom have worked alongside InterAction Member organizations for decades.

As USAID programs transfer to the State Department, critical expertise hangs in the balance. We urgently call on the Administration to preserve the specialized technical skills and institutional knowledge that made USAID effective. USAID staff possessed unique capabilities that ensured programs remained accountable, transparent, and results-driven—standards that cannot be compromised as foreign aid faces increasing scrutiny.

The State Department must now step up to continue life-saving work that reaches the world’s most vulnerable while building long-term self-sufficiency, resilience, and peace. This requires making new funding available immediately to replace cancelled projects with initiatives that align with the Administration’s foreign policy priorities.

U.S. foreign policy is at a critical moment. The loss of USAID represents the potential elimination of proven foreign policy tools at a time when American leadership is needed most. We call on Congress and the Administration to harness the expertise of frontline development and humanitarian professionals, including InterAction and its Members, to forge a unified vision for the future of America’s foreign assistance.