What is USAID, and how central is it to US foreign policy?

Last week, hundreds of internal contractors at USAID were put on unpaid leave or terminated after Trump froze foreign aid. Elon Musk called for the agency to be shut down, sparking debate. Musk’s criticism led to members of Congress discussing the possibility of permanently closing USAID, with some arguing it would make the US less safe. Established in 1961, USAID is the principal US agency for providing assistance to countries in need, with a history of successful contributions to US national interests.

Full Article