Summary
Trump’s move to defund USAID is causing unintended consequences for American farmers and businesses.
The Washington Post reports that USAID purchases billions in U.S. agricultural products, with American farms supplying 41% of its food aid.
The funding freeze has already halted $340 million in food shipments, leaving tons of wheat stranded in Houston.
Experts warn this decision directly harms American jobs and businesses, as much of USAID’s aid is administered through U.S.-based organizations employing American workers.
Basically all of foreign “giving” by America is done by purchasing American goods and giving them in exchange for goodwill, soft power, regional stability, favorable trade deals, or other political capital.
Many Americans don’t understand any of that and think their tax money is going in the form of a check to people who don’t care and don’t give us anything in exchange. And it’s not like this is a secret, it’s just kinda gauche for the government to explicitly state it