The demise of USAID: a ‘revolution’ against the wretched of the earth

This article critically examines the Trump administration’s decision to shut down USAID, the world’s largest international aid funder, through an executive order. The closure, justified by claims of inefficiency and failure to serve US interests, resulted in the suspension of essential humanitarian programmes, including critical health support to millions of people living with HIV. The move reflects an internal destructive force against the state and an external broader trend toward bilateral economic transactions and regional spheres of influence, signalling a decline in multilateralism and a shift from US hegemony through soft power to a multipolar world order based on transactional imperialism. The shift raises ethical concerns, particularly as global challenges such as conflicts, climate change, and pandemics require multilateral responses. The article questions the value of a United Nations-based system of international law when injustices like Gaza persist, and critiques the European alignment with this paradigm shift. Ultimately, the article calls for a new multilateralism independent of US dominance, with increased leadership from the Global South.