USAID fact-checks — 2 graded reports

House Democrats decry Trump dismantling of USAID, cite hundreds of thousands of deaths

Sep 6, 2026

In a House special-order hour led by Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), multiple Democrats condemned the Trump administration's 2025 decision to freeze foreign aid, cancel ~83% of USAID programs, fire most staff, and fold remaining functions into the State Department. Speakers including Reps. Lois Frankel, Jim McGovern, Seth Moulton, Raja Krishnamoorthi (misidentified as Subramanian/Suozzi in transcript), Madeleine Dean and Brad Sherman described the move as destructive to U.S. national security, citing halted clean-water, education, malaria, nutrition and peace-accord programs in Nigeria, Nepal, Colombia, DRC, Myanmar and Liberia. They linked cuts to specific child deaths, a major Ebola outbreak in DRC, rising cholera and malaria, lost U.S. jobs, and weakened soft power amid an ongoing U.S.-Iran war. Speakers urged restoring funding and referenced studies projecting hundreds of thousands to millions of excess deaths.

Source: Forbes Breaking News

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Merkley Questions OMB Nominee on USAID Cuts, Separation of Powers

Jun 16, 2026

The clip shows Sen. Jeff Merkley questioning Hal Duncan, nominee for OMB Deputy Director, during a Senate Budget Committee hearing. Merkley criticizes Duncan's experience, accuses the administration of constitutional violations on war powers, tariffs, and spending, and highlights the dismantling of USAID. Merkley cites public health school estimates of roughly 500,000 child deaths from halted malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, nutrition, and dysentery programs after USAID functions were largely transferred to the State Department with major reductions. He questions whether Duncan will defend congressional appropriations and separation of powers.

Source: Forbes Breaking News