Dylan Scott

So I don't know fully what's in the hearts of the Trump administration. But what I can say is that the last time around, they proposed very serious cuts to foreign aid. None of them passed Congress, but this was a very consistent proposal during Trump's first term.

I think also it's an easy target. Strong people coming in and finding the weakest part of the federal government and throwing it against a wall to make an example out of it.

I think also it's an easy target. Strong people coming in and finding the weakest part of the federal government and throwing it against a wall to make an example out of it.

I think also it's an easy target. Strong people coming in and finding the weakest part of the federal government and throwing it against a wall to make an example out of it.

I think we're starting to see that as a pattern that they're going to try to play out. And we don't really know how far it's going to go yet, but

I think we're starting to see that as a pattern that they're going to try to play out. And we don't really know how far it's going to go yet, but

I think we're starting to see that as a pattern that they're going to try to play out. And we don't really know how far it's going to go yet, but

Already, I've heard reports about Doge being in the building at the Social Security Administration, at the Treasury famously mucking with payments, at the General Services Administration, which controls like the physical buildings that a lot of the government is housed in.

Already, I've heard reports about Doge being in the building at the Social Security Administration, at the Treasury famously mucking with payments, at the General Services Administration, which controls like the physical buildings that a lot of the government is housed in.

Already, I've heard reports about Doge being in the building at the Social Security Administration, at the Treasury famously mucking with payments, at the General Services Administration, which controls like the physical buildings that a lot of the government is housed in.

They've started working at the Department of Health and Human Services on Medicare and Medicaid, which is a huge, huge chunk of federal government payments. So I think it's fair to say that this is something they want to do across the entire federal government.

They've started working at the Department of Health and Human Services on Medicare and Medicaid, which is a huge, huge chunk of federal government payments. So I think it's fair to say that this is something they want to do across the entire federal government.

They've started working at the Department of Health and Human Services on Medicare and Medicaid, which is a huge, huge chunk of federal government payments. So I think it's fair to say that this is something they want to do across the entire federal government.

And in fact, when they were criticized because foreign aid is such a trivial share of the overall federal budget, the defense was, yeah, it's small, but wait till you see where we get going. So it's definitely not just about USAID. This is a broader plan they have.

And in fact, when they were criticized because foreign aid is such a trivial share of the overall federal budget, the defense was, yeah, it's small, but wait till you see where we get going. So it's definitely not just about USAID. This is a broader plan they have.

And in fact, when they were criticized because foreign aid is such a trivial share of the overall federal budget, the defense was, yeah, it's small, but wait till you see where we get going. So it's definitely not just about USAID. This is a broader plan they have.

So I think the first step, and this is the thing that started on January 20th, as soon as Trump was inaugurated, is pulling funding. So the first thing they did was announce that they wanted a 90-day freeze on all grants, contracts, anything related to foreign aid.

So I think the first step, and this is the thing that started on January 20th, as soon as Trump was inaugurated, is pulling funding. So the first thing they did was announce that they wanted a 90-day freeze on all grants, contracts, anything related to foreign aid.

So I think the first step, and this is the thing that started on January 20th, as soon as Trump was inaugurated, is pulling funding. So the first thing they did was announce that they wanted a 90-day freeze on all grants, contracts, anything related to foreign aid.

I just really want to underline that they can't do this. This is money that was appropriated by Congress. Legally, the president does not have the power to stop funding that was authorized and mandated by Congress. But they did it.