How misconceptions and woeful PR allowed Musk to shred USAID so easily
A year on from the purge, with thousands of jobs cut and billions in foreign aid lost, a former leader reflects on the sorry saga – and why it would never happen to Nasa
TL;DR
- USAID was eliminated in January 2025 by an entity called Doge, a move criticized as reckless.
- Elon Musk's false narrative labeled USAID a 'criminal organisation' and 'a viper’s nest of radical left-marxists who hate America'.
- USAID lacked public recognition and understanding, unlike NASA, which is an icon of national prestige with broad bipartisan support.
- A Kaiser Family Foundation survey revealed that 86% of adults overestimate the share of the federal budget spent on foreign aid, which is actually about 1%.
- USAID's work in Colombia included helping Venezuelan migrants, guaranteeing loans for businesses promoting sustainable products, and supporting the implementation of a peace accord.
- NASA's success in public communication is attributed to helping voters understand its work with visual aids, telling stories that link to national aspirations, and talking about positive side-effects of space technology.
- USAID's international focus and complex contexts made it vulnerable to attacks, while its 'brand equity' was low.
- The article suggests that USAID's work was a bargain for the US, costing significantly less than other expenditures and contributing to solving global challenges.