Former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush appeared in a rare joint video message criticizing the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency.
The message, also joined by U2 singer Bono, was directed at USAID staff as the agency marked what was described as its final day operating independently after Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered it to be absorbed into the State Department.
Obama called the move a “colossal mistake,” describing the restructuring as a “travesty” and a “tragedy,” and emphasized the global impact of the agency’s decades of humanitarian and development work.
Bush focused on USAID’s legacy, particularly its role in global health initiatives such as PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS relief program launched during his administration, which has been credited with saving millions of lives worldwide.
Bono added an emotional tribute, praising USAID workers and highlighting their role in global poverty and health efforts. He reportedly read a poem honoring their service and legacy.
The decision to restructure USAID came after months of internal policy shifts under the Trump administration, including efforts associated with the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing federal spending and reorganizing foreign aid programs.
Supporters of the move argued that USAID needed stronger oversight and better alignment with national priorities, while critics warned it could weaken U.S. global influence and disrupt critical humanitarian programs.
USAID, created during the Kennedy administration, has long been a central tool of U.S. foreign assistance, working in areas such as disaster relief, disease prevention, and poverty reduction. Its supporters argue it has also served broader diplomatic and security interests by building international partnerships.
The closure of its independent structure has therefore become a major point of political division, with critics framing it as a loss of global leadership and supporters viewing it as long-overdue reform.
Despite those disagreements, the joint message from Obama and Bush underscored a rare moment of bipartisan agreement: that USAID’s work had significant global impact and mattered deeply to both recipients abroad and those who carried out its mission.
