Abolishing USAID Would Contravene U.S. Law, the U.S. Constitution, and Would Harm Response to Current and Future Outbreaks

Matthew M. Kavanagh, Luis Gil Abinader

In 1961, USAID was established as an independent agency by an act of Congress. Executive action dissolving or merging USAID with the U.S. Department of State without new legislation would be unconstitutional and disastrous.

In response to reports on the Trump administration’s plans for USAID, Matthew Kavanagh and Luis Gil Abinader address key legal and policy questions if the agency were to be abolished.