Bush and Obama Speak Out After USAID Shutdown: Former Presidents Unite in Rare Joint Message
In a rare moment of bipartisan alignment, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama joined U2 frontman Bono to deliver emotional messages to employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) following its closure and absorption into the State Department.
The agency—which has operated since the Kennedy administration—was shut down after a federal review citing mismanagement and inefficient spending.
While the Trump administration called the restructuring necessary, two former presidents who relied heavily on USAID’s programs during their time in office strongly disagreed.
Obama: “This is a colossal mistake.”
Speaking via video, President Obama praised USAID workers for their decades of global humanitarian service.
He called the closure “a travesty” and warned that losing an independent development agency could undermine America’s ability to respond to crises around the world.
“Sooner or later, leaders on both sides will realize how much you are needed,” Barack Obama
He also noted that USAID’s work has been “some of the most important happening anywhere in the world,” and emphasized the agency’s role in disaster response, global health, and economic development.
Bush: “You showed the strength of America through your good heart.”
President George W. Bush—who normally avoids direct criticism of political decisions—made an exception. He highlighted how USAID played a central role in PEPFAR, his signature global HIV/AIDS program credited with saving millions of lives.
“Is it in our national interest that 25 million people who would have died now live?
I think it is. And so do you.”
— George W. Bush
Bush kept his remarks focused on legacy and gratitude, thanking employees for their service and humanitarian impact.
Bono: “They called you crooks… when you were the best of us.”
Longtime global aid advocate Bono also addressed the staff, reading a poem honoring their work. He warned that abrupt cuts to development programs could harm communities worldwide.
The Associated Press reported that Bono and Obama appeared visibly emotional as they spoke.
Why USAID was closed
Earlier in the year, President Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to identify areas of waste across the federal government.
A subsequent investigation cited examples of questionable spending and argued that foreign aid programs needed stronger oversight.
Former USAID responsibilities will now fall under the State Department, with officials saying the goal is to increase “accountability and alignment with U.S. interests.”
A divided reaction
Supporters of the reform say the shift will streamline operations, reduce waste, and increase strategic efficiency.
Critics—including two former presidents—argue that dissolving USAID as an independent entity weakens America’s global leadership and humanitarian presence.
While opinions differ, the moment was striking: two leaders from opposite parties, and a world-famous activist, coming together to defend an institution they believe shaped America’s role in the world.
