DALLAS — On Thursday afternoon, a protest of dozens took place outside Senator John Cornyn’s office building in response to recent news about the Trump administration's defunding of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The administration imposed a 90-day funding freeze on USAID, including projects across 120 countries; examples include supporting Ukraine’s security, and development initiatives like clean water access, job training and education (even for Afghan schoolgirls under the Taliban).
Thursday’s demonstration urged Sen. Cornyn to reject the recent policies implemented by President Trump and Elon Musk.
Protesters also opposed President Trump’s nomination of Russel Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“We are for standing up for our rights. Everyone from Trump, Musk and Vought is taking our rights away. And at some point it’s going to affect everyone," says Benny De La Vega, organizer of the protest.
Senator Cornyn released a statement to Spectrum News 1 saying, “I had the pleasure of speaking once again to Russ Vought, who was formerly the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a job he held previously under President Trump during his first administration. Mr. Vought led the OMB then, and so he’s had extensive experience to build on in President Trump’s second term.”
On Thursday night, the Senate approved Vought as the White House budget director by a 53-47 party-line vote.
A USAID funding freeze order, effective midnight Friday, mandates that direct hires overseas (many already packing in anticipation) have 30 days to return home unless deemed essential. The notice stated that non-essential contractors would also be terminated.
Thousands of USAID employees have already been laid off, and programs shut down worldwide, after Trump, a Republican, imposed a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance. Despite outcry from Democratic lawmakers, the aid agency has been a special target as the new administration and Musk’s budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency look to shrink the federal government.
The U.S. donates far more to humanitarian causes than any other country, globally. Foreign assistance accounts for under 1% of its budget, a lower percentage than many other nations.
Democratic lawmakers and others say the USAID is enshrined via legislation as an independent agency, and cannot be shut down without congressional approval. Supporters of USAID from both political parties say its work overseas is essential to countering the influence of Russia, China and other adversaries and rivals abroad, and to cementing alliances and partnerships.
USAID’s website, taken down by Musk’s teams over the weekend, reappeared Tuesday night, featuring a notice about global staff recalls or terminations.