Key Takeaways:
– President Trump, Elon Musk, and Marco Rubio’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is said to be illegal.
– Significant protests have arisen from this attempted action.
– Any significant alterations or abolition of USAID requires an act of Congress, according to current laws.
– Galston predicts that if Trump proceeds, his decision will be contested in court.
– The final decision could test compliance with the judiciary and impact the rule of law in America.
The USAID Dismantle Plot
Recently, the news blew up about an unfolding plot that involves some big names – President Donald Trump, tech tycoon Elon Musk, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The trio is planning to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – a step that many legal experts argue could be a violation of American law.
The USAID is an important program in the US. It helps other countries with foreign aid, promotes democracy, and works to prevent pandemics among other things. So, the move to get rid of it naturally sparked outrage, leading to large protests at the agency headquarters.
A Closer Look at the Legality
Now, let’s zoom in on the legal side of things. The USAID was set up by an executive order from President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The interesting part is that in 1998, Congress passed a law stating that USAID should be its own separate entity within the executive branch.
This makes it different from the functions of the State Department. So, according to William A. Galston, a scholar at the Brookings Institution, Trump doesn’t have the power to dismantle USAID unless Congress decides to make that change.
The Role of the State Department and Marco Rubio
Kind of like how your parents are supposed to guide you, the State Department is supposed to guide the USAID. This means that Marco Rubio, as the Secretary of State, could kick out USAID officials if they act against his policy. But even he can’t get rid of the agency. To make massive changes to how the program works or to shut it down, the Congress has to step in.
What’s Elon Musk’s Role in All of this?
Then there’s Elon Musk, the tech billionaire. He’s been very vocal about his dislike for USAID. He’s famously described the agency as ‘evil’, ‘a viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America’ and a ‘criminal organization.’ It also appears that Trump is on the same page with Musk, calling the agency a ‘bunch of radical lunatics’. But no matter how much they seem to dislike the agency, they legally can’t shut it down.
Impacts on the Rule of Law
Now, assuming Trump tries to go ahead with this move, Galston is pretty sure it’ll end up in court. And if his understanding of the law is right, the court won’t let Trump go ahead with this. The big question then would be: Will Trump listen to the court or do what he wants anyway? This decision could very well test the strength of the rule of law in the US.
So, there you have it. This is the gist of the plot to dismantle the USAID and its potential impacts. Remember, this situation is live, and we’re watching to see how this drama unfolds. But for now, we can say that this stands as a test for America’s rule of law.