{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"USSC Briefing Room","title":"Former USAID official on the DOGE cuts and pathway forward","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/79efabc7\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1877,"description":"Since President Trump took office for a second time on 20 January 2025, he has driven an unprecedented level of sweeping governmental change. One of the first and most drastic changes was to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration has cancelled the majority USAID contracts, eliminated 1,600 positions and almost the entire workforce is on administrative leave.\nWhat is USAID and why was it a target for major cuts by Trump? Are these changes permissible within the powers of the Executive branch? What impacts could this have globally?\nUSSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Lester Munson joins Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss these questions. Munson formerly served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID.\nYou may also like Leter Munson’s recent write-up The new game in aid: Deal power.\n \nSubscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.\n \nProduced by: Elliott Brennan\nMusic by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/8JjnSpvrqtLxnqveQsXPbCugzj8Ufoh9YYMvJ5ilxFA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQyNDc4LzE2ODY2/MzIzOTEtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}