How do you feel NOW, Mr Secretary?

It seems to me you're attributing claims to me that I didn’t make. What I shared was simply information reported by AP and other credible news sources.
My post was not a judgment, just an update based on what has been reported.

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-treasury-5e26cc80fcb766981cea56afd57ae759?os=__

I understand there are different opinions on this matter, and that's okay—readers are free to agree or disagree with any of us.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation, and time will reveal the truth.

As to condoms?
More like the $50 million is put aside for sexual health or something of that nature, which would include gynecology and many other services, but not condoms alone.

Most posted in this forum is left opinion, and accusations, smears etc all against the GOP.
And my input with addresses at time news from a different angle to support of the more conservative views.

 

Here is an opinion:

Arash Yaqin . 3rd+
U.S. Foreign Policy | National

USAID is either gone or, at the very least,
unlikely to return in its current form. I've
noticed many people in my network
announcing layoffs, and it's always
disheartening to see how policy changes at
the individual level negatively impact those
around us. While we empathize with them, it's
also crucial to recognize that the international
development sector is in dire need of reform,
The current structure and operations of the
NGO world have largely proven ineffective
Over the past two decades, my experience in
the development sector has exposed
widespread mismanagement at all levels. Insome cases, over 80% of budgets have been
spent on luxury offices and personnel in
developed countries, while much of what
remains for developing nations is siphoned off
by corrupt foreign elites. Some NGOs have
functioned as one-person or small-group
ventures, while others have employed more
program managers than actual beneficiaries.,
I'm not sure if those currently in charge of
reform have the political will to fix this sector,
but perhaps this moment presents an opportunity?

---
CIA also offer buyouts to its entire workforce

The Central Intelligence Agency CIA on Tuesday became the first major national security agency to offer so-called buyouts to its entire workforce, a CIA spokesperson and two other sources familiar with the offer said, part of President Donald Trump’s broad effort to shrink the federal government and shape it to his agenda.

The offer — which tells federal employees that they can quit their jobs and receive roughly eight months of pay and benefits — had up until Tuesday not been made available to most national security roles in an apparent cognizance of their critical function to the security of the nation.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe personally decided he also wanted the CIA to be involved, one of the sources said.

 

I was expecting this exact response from you which is why I was very careful not to attribute any claims to you.

It is very clear to me that Elon Musk was just lying when he said he had discovered fraudulent payments. Elon Musk is not as big of a liar as Trump but he does like to lie. Another example is his lie that USAID is an illegal organization. It would be wise to initially disbelief anything said by Trump or Musk. Only believe what they say when it's supported by a reliable source.

 

Thanks, as I mentioned, I have very little knowledge about USAID.

What about employees
Like this guy

Arash Yaqin . 3rd+
U.S. Foreign Policy | National

USAID is either gone or, at the very least,unlikely to return in its current form. I'venoticed many people in my network announcing layoffs, and it's always
disheartening to see how policy changes atthe individual level negatively impact thosearound us. While we empathize with them, it's also crucial to recognize that the international
development sector is in dire need of reform, The current structure and operations of the NGO world have largely proven ineffective
Over the past two decades, my experience in the development sector has exposed widespread mismanagement at all levels. In some cases, over 80% of budgets have been
spent on luxury offices and personnel in developed countries, while much of what remains for developing nations is siphoned off
by corrupt foreign elites. Some NGOs have functioned as one-person or small-group ventures, while others have employed more
program managers than actual beneficiaries., I'm not sure if those currently in charge of reform have the political will to fix this sector, but perhaps this moment presents an opportunity?

 

Which is usually never.

 

Absolutely useless blather. I assume you didn't write this. Is there someone named Arash Yaqin? Who the hell is that? Did he write that? I Googled the name and the only person that showed up did not work at USAID. It said he was some fellow that fled Afghanistan and went to Russia for awhile. If he did write this am I supposed to believe a possible Russian operative? Did you pull this stuff off of social media? Without any source it is just useless misinformation that should be ignored.

 

This is from LinkedIn , there is the profile and image of the guy

 

So it was pulled off of social media. Completely useless. There is a huge amount of reliable sources available for the news. Pulling stuff off of social media is a waste of time all the way around IMHO.

 

I am trying to figure out why anyone would be bothered by the dismantling of an agency that spent hundreds of millions on expenditures that have no relevance to the US citizenry or, worse, support causes like $32k for a "transgender comic book" in Peru or 2.5M for electric vehicles in a communist country. All of the blathering is out of touch, and I suspect it's driven by TDS instead of reality.

 

Well, perhaps because the President is acting well beyond his authority and using bully boy tactics? Maybe we object to illegal stuff in general.

 

Today it is USAID. The next illegal shutdown might concern you. If nothing Trump does could ever concern you then imagine what would happen if this becomes the normal way of doing things and a Democrat is elected in 2030. Perhaps then that Democrat President might do some illegal action that you don't like?

 

hh , now I get it

I’m still processing everything that’s happening. While there are ongoing debates about the reasons behind it, another critical issue is HOW it’s being handled.

 

The only recourse (ignoring illegal actions) is taking the illegal action to court. That is what is being done in this case. Well I guess another action could be to impeach Trump but that would never happen in our current political environment. I note though, that this is basically what Trump was impeached for the first time. He was refusing to send funds to Ukraine until Ukraine did what he wanted. The problem he was impeached for is that the law was he had to send the funds to Ukraine. It was illegal for him to refuse to follow the law.

 

The 2026 midterm is just around the corner.

 

It is debatable whether these actions constitute a shutdown or reorganization. They've been billed as the latter by the administration, and the plan, as I have heard it, is to merge USAID into the Dept of State. However, you've assumed that these moves are illegal when, in fact, that is entirely debatable and depends heavily on where this all leads. It's palpably hypocritical that folks ignored the lawfare, open border, family pardons, etc., and only now are genuinely concerned about the law. Even so, you've conveniently ignored the substance of my comment.

 

That's a fair point. Did Congress establish the organizational structure of USAID and if so, did the enabling legislation allow the President to reorganize it. I don't know. I doubt it but I don't actually know.

As to the "open border", I live here and that's a lie.

 

Is it a lie, or are you assuming that your slice of the region is a universal indication of the entire border? The numbers and infinite reports don't lie.

 

He's got New Mexico. I've got Arizona (presently) and Nevada, Texas, and California (all previously). It's a lie.

 

Have you ever visited the border? Come take a look. Look at the Wall, travel through the endless (and pitiless) deserts, try to understand why so many migrants either die in the attempt or are rescued. Could more be done? Yes, and a bipartisan bill to do more was set to pass until Trump instructed his obedient members of Congress to torpedo it.

Before 9/11, the border really WAS open. Come down and take a look for yourself.