It has been a year since the illegal shutdown of USAID. The damage inflicted did not stop overseas—it has hurt Americans at home.

One year ago, the administration began its attacks on USAID—an agency that for more than 60 years advanced American interests, saved lives, and strengthened U.S. leadership around the world.

This anniversary is about documenting the truth of what happened, acknowledging the cost to the United States, and honoring the patriotic public servants who powered the world’s leading development agency.

Tens of thousands of U.S. private-sector jobs were lost, farmers lost access to key markets, and billions in contracts were abruptly voided.

The decision to shut down USAID weakened the U.S. economy as well as our global standing. #USAIDOneYear

Critical humanitarian and development programs were halted and partnerships were broken. In less than a year, the loss of USAID has been linked to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths from infectious disease and malnutrition.

When USAID was shut down, more than 16,000 experienced public servants were pushed out of government.

They were not “criminals” or “wasteful bureaucrats.” They were dedicated professionals who served the United States, often in dangerous and difficult conditions.

Discarding that expertise weakened America.

This month, we honor their service and the contributions they made—and continue to make—on behalf of the United States.

USAID once made America strong; shutting it down has cost us relationships, credibility, and our global standing. #USAIDOneYear