Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda has evolved from mere rhetoric to active policy. His latest move dismantling USAID, the primary agency for foreign aid and humanitarian assistance reveals a deliberate effort to realign U.S. priorities with his nationalist vision. This decision not only slashes funding but also severs critical support for millions of displaced people worldwide.

As the largest provider of emergency food aid, USAID reaches tens of millions of refugees across 32 countries. In 2023 alone, the U.S. allocated $40 billion (0.6% of its annual federal budget) to the agency. Despite its modest share of federal spending, this funding had an outsized impact: it sustained Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, assisted 12.8 million Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, and supported crisis responses in Sudan and Haiti. Beyond refugee aid, USAID has been pivotal in global health initiatives, funding HIV/AIDS programs, Ebola containment, and other emergencies. The abrupt cessation of these efforts will disrupt millions of lives and destabilize humanitarian and medical systems globally.

To Trump, however, USAID represents an unnecessary burden on American taxpayers. His stance “IT’S TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE… CLOSE IT DOWN” reflects his administration’s prioritization of domestic interests over foreign aid. Though USAID’s budget is a small fraction of federal spending, the political rationale for cutting it aligns with Trump’s broader agenda. His hostility toward immigrants and LGBTQ+ communities groups heavily reliant on USAID support is well-documented. Domestically, he has tightened asylum policies and escalated deportations. The logic is clear: why fund these groups abroad while targeting them at home? His recent declaration recognizing only two genders underscores his antipathy toward LGBTQ+ rights, making continued support for inclusive programs incongruous.

This is not merely ideological it is strategic. Trump’s core base of conservative nationalists and right-wing hardliners has long opposed spending taxpayer dollars on international aid. Defunding USAID reinforces his commitment to their priorities: economic nationalism, immigration restriction, and rejection of globalism. This resonates with isolationist voters who prioritize domestic self-reliance, a key pillar of his campaign strategy.

The message is unambiguous: American resources should serve Americans first. This decision is part of a broader recalibration of U.S. global engagement. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” vision emphasizes withdrawal, not leadership. Refugees and LGBTQ+ communities groups disproportionately affected by these cuts have never been part of his political agenda. In fact, his policies actively undermine their interests. How, then, could he justify supporting organizations he marginalizes domestically?

Defunding USAID transcends fiscal policy; it advances an exclusionary nationalist ideology. Trump is not merely reshaping foreign policy he is reorienting America’s moral compass. The pressing question remains: at what cost?