Former U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, has warned that the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will harm America’s strategic interests, weaken its international standing, and increase risks for vulnerable populations worldwide.
Hovenier, who recently completed his tenure as U.S. ambassador in Kosovo, highlighted the crucial role USAID has played in post-war regions like Kosovo. He emphasized that USAID’s mission has significantly contributed to security and stability.
“I should know—until six weeks ago, I was the U.S. ambassador to Kosovo, a country with a major USAID mission. Our USAID colleagues were an integral and essential part of the interagency ‘Country Team’ I led, supporting our strategic efforts to promote stability and prosperity in a fragile part of Europe,” Hovenier wrote in an op-ed for The Bellingham Herald.
He criticized the administration’s abrupt decision, arguing that reducing or eliminating USAID programs would be a “gift to America’s competitors.” He pointed out that China’s global development investments have surged by 525% in the last 15 years, while the U.S. withdrawal would weaken Washington’s ability to respond to key strategic developments.
Hovenier also stressed the cost implications of repatriating USAID staff, estimating that bringing home 1,400 officers and their families would cost at least $20 million. A bipartisan group of former USAID administrators, he noted, has also condemned the plan, arguing that weakening or dismantling the agency is detrimental to all Americans.
“This reckless decision is sowing chaos, instilling fear, and disrupting lives and careers, negatively impacting families,” Hovenier warned, calling for swift action from Congress and the administration to protect USAID’s statutory role.
