
How Happiness Researchers Can Master Trump's foreign aid freeze could prove to be a boon for the world's authoritarian strongmen
How Happiness Researchers Can Master Trump's foreign aid freeze could prove to be a boon for the world's authoritarian strongmen
Title How Happiness Researchers Can Master Trump's foreign aid freeze could prove to be a boon for the world's authoritarian strongmen
In the past few days, President Donald Trump has frozen foreign assistance for 90 days, stating that such a measure was needed to eliminate waste and block what he described as woke spending. This suspension, however, has had another consequence it emboldens authoritarian strongmen worldwide.
These funds are significant because they provide millions of dollars annually to support grassroots groups dedicated to fighting for democracy in various nations across the globe. For instance, this includes organizations that trained poll workers to detect fraud in Venezuela's recent presidential vote, pro-democracy activists in Cuba and China, and a group of Belarusian exiles behind a campaign against their country's strongman.
The decision to cut funding sends the wrong signal to dictatorships and undermines those fighting for freedom. These particular investments should not only be restored but prioritized since they counter authoritarian rule in eight countries, including Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. The budget allocated is at least $690 million.
The freeze also affects the US Agency for International Development (USAID), where hundreds of employees were laid off as part of billionaire Elon Musk's campaign to slash spending. Trump has announced that all foreign assistance will be evaluated based on whether it makes the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
To overhaul USAID, he is relying on Peter Marocco, a former marine and conservative activist from Dallas who briefly worked for the agency during the first Trump administration. While funding for some of these programs may resume, strongmen throughout the world are already celebrating and doubling down on attacks against their opponents.