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BumRushDaShow

(148,647 posts) Tue Feb 11, 2025, 04:48 PM Feb 11

Democrats unveil legislation in bid to halt USAID elimination

Source: The Hill

02/11/25 2:46 PM ET

A group of House Democrats have introduced legislation in a bid to stop the Trump administration from dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The bill, led by Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), was introduced Tuesday and is called the Protect U.S. National Security Act. It aims to prove that USAID reform should abide by laws and “not harm American soft power” as the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) looks to cut federal spending at various agencies and departments.

“Over the past 10 days, Elon Musk and DOGE have shut down USAID’s website, closed its headquarters, placed thousands of staffers on leave, and issued a stop work order on most foreign assistance – including life-saving humanitarian assistance,” Jacobs said in a release.

The future of USAID remains unclear after a federal judge temporarily paused the Trump administration’s plan to put thousands of its employees on leave. A preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday. Jacobs, as the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that oversees USAID, introduced the bill with 15 other Democrats.

The legislation, first reported by Reuters, looks to ban the Trump administration from using U.S. funds to pay the salaries of employees cutting USAID, including those employed by DOGE. It likely faces an uphill battle in the GOP-led House and Senate, but Democrats warn of the seriousness of the recent actions from President Trump and Elon Musk. In the Senate, Democrats caution that they have the power to withhold funding from the government ahead of the March 14 deadline.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5138918-democrats-usaid-doge-bill/

4 replies

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Democrats unveil legislation in bid to halt USAID elimination (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Feb 11 OP

Why? FBaggins Feb 11 #1

Here is draft bill (3 pg PDF) BumRushDaShow Feb 11 #4

We must try. pandr32 Feb 11 #2

The courts are not the last line of defense since the FElon duo do what they want regardless. They are turning ancianita Feb 11 #3

FBaggins

(28,022 posts)

1. Why?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2025, 04:54 PM

Feb 11

They aren’t going to be able to pass anything - so all this does is damage the story that says they’re acting illegally.

If legislation is needed to stop them… we can’t argue that legislation is needed to them to do what they’re doing

BumRushDaShow

(148,647 posts)

4. Here is draft bill (3 pg PDF)

Reply to FBaggins (Reply #1)

Tue Feb 11, 2025, 10:02 PM

Feb 11

https://sarajacobs.house.gov/imo/media/doc/protect_usnationalsecurityact.pdf

119TH CONGRESS
1 ST SESSION

H. R.____

To prohibit the use of Federal funds to eliminate the United States Agency
for International Development.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Ms. JACOBS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on _____

A BILL

To prohibit the use of Federal funds to eliminate the United
States Agency for International Development.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect U.S. National
Security Act’’.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) any reform or reorganization of the United
States Agency for International Development
(USAID) should be done—
(A) in accordance with existing laws;
(B) in a manner that maintains United
States soft power abroad;
(C) in a manner that prevents United
States adversaries and strategic competitors
from filling the void on the world stage; and
(D) in a manner that make the United
States safer, stronger, and more prosperous;
and
(2) only an act of Congress can eliminate the
United States Agency for International Development
as an independent establishment, as defined by sec-
tion 104 of title 5, United State Code

(snip)

It looks like it is already saying it is illegal to eliminate the agency but also appears to be indicating guidelines on any reorganization of it.

pandr32

(12,711 posts)

2. We must try.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2025, 05:08 PM

Feb 11

ancianita

(39,939 posts)

3. The courts are not the last line of defense since the FElon duo do what they want regardless. They are turning

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2025, 05:41 PM

Feb 11

the country into an oligarchic AI technocracy before our eyes. If the military are paying attention, they'd better have a plan & prepare to end this, unless they want to be just the biggest mercenary army on the planet.

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