To The Reader’s Forum:

As a resident of Chautauqua County, I am concerned about the recent halt of USAID programs and the spread of misinformation about their impact. USAID is crucial to U.S. foreign policy. By promoting economic growth, education and world health in over 80 countries, USAID maintains the status of the United States as the premier diplomatic influencer in the world, which protects our national security.

In the countries where we are active through USAID programs, the people value us because we improve their lives. If we give that up, we create power vacuums that adversaries like China, Russia, and extremist groups are eager to fill — jeopardizing both global stability and American safety. The countries we help become our economic trading partners and are in our corner diplomatically.

Cuts in USAID programs, which total less than one percent of the U.S. budget, will deny medical care to millions of women and children, lead to significant increases in diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, avian flu and others, and cause millions of additional deaths in children who could not be vaccinated against preventable diseases. The higher rates of illness will take a toll on economic development in developing countries, and both the diseases and the economic stagnation will spill over into the United States.

Even with the Supreme Court decision requiring the government to pay its Congressionally mandated obligations, the programs remain shuttered. Staff have been fired or furloughed and computer systems have been crippled.

USAID funding returns economic dividends to the U.S., supporting thousands of American jobs, including in New York. The agency partners with universities, non-profits, farmers, and businesses across the nation. In the past fiscal year, these collaborations have infused over $26 million into New York’s economy alone. The abrupt halt of USAID programs has endangered these partnerships and the economic benefits they bring and led to widespread job losses.

I urge our elected officials to consider the following actions:

– Resume USAID Operations: Reinstate the vital programs that uphold U.S. strategic interests and global leadership.

– Honor Financial Commitments: Ensure timely payments to contractors and partners to prevent further economic fallout.

– Protect USAID Personnel: Cease unlawful reduction-in-force actions and uphold federal workforce protections to maintain the agency’s efficacy.

Beth Peyton

Bemus Point