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Comment by delichon | Hacker News Reader

https://ronpaulinstitute.org/audit-usaidthen-shut-it-down/

USAID was created by an executive order, but then established by Congress in the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998. Simple impoundment of funds violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. So Trump does not have the authority to just shut down USAID.

But here's the thing. He doesn't care. He has complete immunity for it. He isn't running for re-election. He believes that it is a political advantage for his legacy. He is effectively immune from impeachment until the midterm elections. If the court orders it re-funded, he re-hydrates it under his control, and is still politically ahead. And this informs most of his executive actions.

This is what chatgpt suggested to make it minimal viable agency (align with aforementioned acts): Staff: 10-50 employees, mostly in HQ Budget: ~$1-2M for core staff & admin, rest funneled through grants Field Presence: 1-3 priority countries, skeleton operations Mission Execution: Reduced to policy advising, reports, & strategic partnerships

This would keep USAID legally operational while effectively neutering it.

"Minimum Legal operation" should probably be the target for many government programs.

could not disagree with that

Yes, I too go to the DMV and think 'why doesn't every government agency only have two people working with a line of 200 waiting'.

Fifty employees is about eight million dollars per year, fully loaded costing. ChatGPT does not know how to budget for labor.

> Simple impoundment of funds violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. So Trump does not have the authority to just shut down USAID.

IIUC, the current administration is running with that the Impoundment Control Act itself is unconstitutional [1] so they do have authority to shut down USAID or any other congress appropriations.

[1]: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/02/nx-s1-5281438/understanding-t...

> He isn't running for re-election

I see you're an optimist!

Or an extreme pessimist...

He's eager to get before the Supreme Court and has people whispering in his ear that the Impoundment Control Act is unconstituional. I think the shock and awe campaign has politician gains at deployment and any fights can be turned to his favor in public, too. He's very good at getting people to play on his terms.

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