Former USAID global health official Nicholas Enrich explains the catastrophic human toll of DOGE's cuts to the agency.

cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/46592987

For more than 12 years, Nicholas Enrich worked at USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, rising to become one of the agency’s top global health officials. Then, in a matter of weeks, he watched as the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) dismantled the six-decade-old agency responsible for delivering American foreign aid around the world.

Enrich documented the experience in his book Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower’s Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID. He joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson to discuss what happened behind the scenes, and its devastating consequences.

This is what Mass Murder looks like.

    • BonsaiBoo@lemmy.world
      43·
      2 days ago

      He’s not alone, but he’s the wealthiest person in the US, and one of the wealthiest in the world - so he has more culpability than nearly everyone else, especially considering his actions were said to be by himself some of his personal goals and pet projects, of utmost importance. He literally funded trumps election in large part and the Republican elections in general, while also making a massive non monetary donation of media exposure through twitter algorithm shenanigans and personal posts, so that he could get into the government himself and perform those deeds he did under doge and under the purview of the executive branch. He was considered a shadow president for a period of time thanks to all those acts.

      • ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        2 days ago

        he’s the wealthiest person in the US

        As an aside, I’m not at all certain this is still true, if it ever really was.

        What IS certain is that the absolute dollar value of the very wealthy is an ongoing shell game that reveals more if they want loans, and far less when it comes to paying judgements and taxes.

        Even so, ketboy’s claimed wealth could stand a great deal more examination, especially these days. He gets a lot of access and influence thrown his way just on the claim alone. I’d like to see him stop getting that anticipatory cooperation based on a claim that has not been self-apparent for some time.

        I’d put him in the top twenty of US wealthiest individuals, sure. But first place? Especially with what’s been happening with Tesla and X, not anymore.

    • Chozo@fedia.io
      111·
      2 days ago

      Yes, but he’s rich enough that saying “no” was always an option for him. Their goals were aligned in this. Elon chose this outcome.