USAID

Dr. Atul Gawande delivers a speech in 2015. In January 2022, he became the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development's work in global health.

Faced with COVID and monkeypox, new USAID leader draws strength from African proverb

5:40pm July 11, 2022

by Ailsa Chang

Dr Atul Gawande, the surgeon and bestselling health writer talks, to NPR about the problems he has inherited as the new head of USAID's global health office.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power delivered a speech on her "new vision" for the agency on Nov. 4 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

New USAID director aims to shake up 60-year-old aid agency. Here's her 'new vision'

11:47am November 05, 2021

by Malaka Gharib

Like any government agency, the biggest American foreign aid group has its problems. This week, its new administrator Samantha Power outlined her solutions.

Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, speaks during a joint press conference with Haitian officials at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, in Port-Au-Prince on Thursday.

World News

The U.S. Is Pledging Aid To Haiti But The Success Of Past Efforts Has Been Mixed

7:38pm August 26, 2021

by Becky Sullivan

USAID Administrator Samantha Power appeared with Haiti's prime minister to pledge $32 million in assistance for the earthquake-damaged nation. The primary needs are for shelter and medical care.

Hackers used the U.S. Agency for International Development's email marketing account to send messages that looked legitimate — but links in the email exposed recipients to malicious software, Microsoft says.

What We Know About The Apparent Russian Hack Exploiting A U.S. Aid Agency

5:02pm May 28, 2021

Screenshots of the malicious email show that it purports to be a special alert from the government. "Donald Trump has published new documents on election fraud," the message declares.

Samantha Power, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama administration, has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to run USAID. Power is seen here in 2014.

Biden Nominates Samantha Power To Run U.S. Agency For International Development

1:35pm January 13, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

Power is "a world-renowned voice of conscience and moral clarity," President-elect Joe Biden said of the former U.N. ambassador. The post will be elevated to become a National Security Council member.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is one of the largest official foreign aid organizations in the world. An executive order from the Trump administration said there would be consequences if its diversity training programs were to continue.

Health & Safety

Why Diversity Training Has Been Suspended At USAID

2:11pm October 27, 2020

by Joanne Lu

The suspension followed an executive order from the Trump administration that called such workplace programs "divisive," "anti-American," racist against white people and sexist against men.

Foreign aid takes many forms — and Trump and Biden have differing perspectives. Above: Members of the Honduran Armed Forces carry a box of COVID-19 diagnostic testing kits donated by the United States Agency for International Development and the Interna

Trump And Biden On Global Issues: From Reproductive Rights To Refugees

5:04pm October 22, 2020

by Joanne Lu

Here are the positions of the two candidates on issues ranging from the Mexico City policy (involving abortion services) to refugees to membership in the World Health Organization.

A government employee in the Honduras unpacks some of the 8,000 COVID-19 diagnostic testing kits donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Organization for Migration.

U.S. Mulls Controversial Foreign Aid Shake-up

10:54am June 17, 2020

by Jason Beaubien

The administration wants to channel more funds through the State Department in an effort to target emerging diseases. Critics say that could have dire impacts on the children of the world.

An N95 respirator — a critical piece of personal protective equipment. The U.S. is now restricting the ability of aid groups abroad to use American funds to buy PPE.

The U.S. Is Giving Vast Sums Of Money To Fight COVID-19 Abroad. But There's A Catch

4:04pm May 13, 2020

by Malaka Gharib

Aid groups are frustrated by a new restriction on using U.S. funds to buy personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. The U.S. says it's a way to ensure there's enough PPE for domestic use.

Mark Green has stepped down as administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) after nearly three years on the job.

Exiting USAID Chief On The Pandemic, Foreign Aid, Trump's Policies

12:59pm April 29, 2020

Mark Green talks to NPR about what it's like leaving during a global health crisis — and what the future may hold for the agency.

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