WASHINGTON, DC (April 2, 2025) — This week, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) joined an amicus brief with over 200 House Democrats standing up to the Trump Administration's blatant executive overreach and illegal efforts to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
"The Trump Administration's latest order to eliminate nearly all remaining staff at USAID will not only have far-reaching consequences both at home and abroad, but it is a clear attempt to undermine our constitution," said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. "North Carolina is the fourth-highest recipient of USAID funding, which provides critical support to our farmers, researchers, biotech companies, medical professionals, and so many others. The repeated attacks on USAID by the Trump Administration have already halted countless research projects and cost thousands of foreign aid workers their jobs here in the Fourth District, and this move will only cause further devastation for my district, our state, and people around the world. Trump and Musk cannot continue to dismantle our critical federal agencies without any evidence, transparency, or accountability. This unchecked power threatens the very foundation of our democracy and must be stopped before irreparable harm is done."
The Trump Administration's unlawful shuttering of USAID will have devastating, widespread repercussions, both domestically and globally. USAID is critical to our national security, and plays an essential role in addressing instability, responding to crises, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and providing humanitarian assistance around the world.
Moreover, the Administration's attempts to eliminate the agency have already had profound impacts on North Carolina's Fourth District. Specifically, the shuttering of the USAID has already resulted in, and will continue to:
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Affect thousands of employees across 60 international development organizations across the Triangle region;
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Cause North Carolina to lose $194 million of yearly investments which comes from USAID;
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Impact the nearly 900 global health organizations operating in North Carolina and 56,000 jobs that stem from these organizations;
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Cripple local nonprofit institution RTI International, which provides technical services across a variety of fields including health and education, and has over 1,000 employees working in the Research Triangle Park offices; and
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Halt vital projects conducting lifesaving disease research.
President Trump's orders to eliminate this critical federal agency are in direct violation of Congress's lawmaking and spending powers as explicitly outlined in Article I of the United States Constitution. The brief argues that USAID is required to be funded as provided by statute and states that any unilateral attempts to dismantle the agency are prohibited by Article I of the Constitution, as recently reaffirmed by the Continuing Resolution enacted by Congressional Republicans on March 15, 2025.
The amicus brief, including a full list of signers, is available here.