What is USAID? How should it be pronounced, and why is it important to explain it simply?

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USAID (United States Agency for International Development) has been frequently mentioned in news and social media recently.

USAID is a federal agency operated by the U.S. government that focuses on reducing poverty, providing medical assistance, and disaster relief.

Many people may be wondering why USAID is making headlines and what the issues surrounding it are.

In this article, we will explain what USAID does, how to pronounce it correctly, and the current issues it faces.

What is USAID?

USAID is the United States Agency for International Development. It is a federal agency that helps countries around the world on behalf of the United States.USAID is very influential. In 2023, it used $40 billion, which is 59% of the $68 billion (about 10 trillion yen) that the United States spent on foreign aid.

Most of the budget goes to helping people in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Ukraine. It also pays for vaccines and other things to stop the spread of viruses that could cause a pandemic.USAID helps people, but some people don’t like how it spends money. U.S. President Trump and business owner Elon Musk don’t like that USAID’s actions are not clear to the public.

Which way is USAID pronounced?

Some people wonder if “USAID” should be pronounced as “U-said” or “U-S-A-I-D” (saying each letter out loud). Both ways are considered correct. In Japanese news, it’s often pronounced as “U-said,” so this might be easier to understand.

Why was USAID established?

USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, was created in 1961. At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union were in the middle of the Cold War. They were competing for influence in various countries worldwide. USAID was created to provide economic assistance to developing countries. This was a way to show the American presence and influence.

USAID currently has about 10,000 employees, with two-thirds of them working abroad.

What does USAID do?

USAID’s main activities include delivering food and water to developing countries and disaster areas worldwide, as well as providing support to prevent diseases. In recent years, it has been providing military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

Another important activity is creating environments where children can receive education by building schools and training teachers. Beyond financial support, USAID also provides technology to improve living standards, aiming to help people around the world lead healthy and safe lives.

What problems is USAID facing?

USAID was created with the good intention of helping countries around the world on behalf of the United States. But it is now being investigated for the following reasons:

-Concerns that it is spending a lot of money on political activities and propaganda instead of helping poor countries
-Worries that it may be using some of its money to pay for entertainment for its business partners
-Concerns that as the organization has grown There are concerns that it is not using its money as effectively as it could be.

The Trump administration does not support USAID using taxpayer money for activities that do not directly benefit the United States.

While some people say Trump is acting too quickly, others say it is important to review USAID because it has changed its original purpose.We will continue to follow what happens with USAID.

February 5, 2025: President Trump agrees to close USAID

On February 5, 2025, President Trump started thinking about closing USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development). He wanted to improve how the government worked and spend federal funds more efficiently.

On February 8, 2025, a federal court in Washington temporarily blocked the USAID closure plan.

The Trump administration tried to close USAID, but USAID employees strongly opposed this. As a result, USAID employees filed a lawsuit in federal court.Three days later, on February 8, the Washington Federal Court issued a temporary restraining order against the closure plan.This order was based on the judgment that the closure of USAID might exceed legal authority.

The court criticized the fact that Trump’s plan was being pursued without congressional approval, noting that “the suspension of USAID’s functions would have a serious impact on international aid activities.”

Currently, the USAID closure plan has been temporarily halted, and legal review is expected to follow.

This is how USAID’s closure will affect the world and Japan.

Globe USA

USAID (United States Agency for International Development) helps many countries develop by reducing poverty, improving healthcare, and enhancing education around the world. If USAID is closed in the future, it will have a big impact on the world and Japan.

Impact on the world

USAID is closing, which will reduce aid to poor countries. This aid includes help with medical problems and disaster relief. The countries that received aid will be greatly affected.

The USAID will stop giving food assistance and vaccines. This could make humanitarian crises worse.

Also, the USAID’s influence on other countries will probably decrease. This could allow other countries like China and Russia to take action. This could change the global landscape.

Impact on Japan

 

The closure of USAID is also said to have a significant impact on Japan. For example, if the economic growth of countries supported by USAID stops, it could affect Japanese companies’ ability to expand into emerging markets.USAID has been providing funds and technology to emerging countries such as India and Indonesia. If this support stops, the local economic conditions may get worse, which could make it difficult for Japanese companies to enter these markets.

There are also concerns that agricultural and energy development projects pursued by Japanese companies like Ito Trading and Mitsubishi Corporation may become unfeasible, resulting in significant losses.This situation cannot be dismissed as “It’s an American issue, so it doesn’t concern us!”

Let’s keep an eye on USAID’s future!

U.S.A. Stars and Stripes

‘USAID (United States Agency for International Development) is an agency that has a lot of influence and money. It affects not only the United States and other countries, but also Japan.

The future of USAID is uncertain. It might be closed, but there is a chance it could be saved or changed. This will depend on the response of the U.S. Congress and the international community. We’re still not sure what will happen.

Let’s continue to watch what happens in the future!

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