A group of former USAID staff, dubbed the 'lifeboat crew,' has secured independent funding to save nearly 80 humanitarian programs after the agency's sudden closure by the Trump administration.
Oct 3, 2025
Source:
The Guardian
Fired Staff Rescue Aid Programs After USAID Closure
In the wake of the Trump administration's closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a group of fired staffers has launched an independent rescue mission. Calling themselves the “lifeboat crew,” they have successfully secured new funding to save nearly 80 critical aid programs.
Their efforts are projected to impact an estimated 40 million people worldwide.
The initiative, first reported by The Guardian, is a direct response to the abrupt termination of hundreds of humanitarian projects. Led by former USAID economist Rob Rosenbaum, the group has focused on salvaging programs with the highest immediate impact.
Key Areas of Focus:
Maternal and child health
Nutrition and food security
Infectious disease control
Emergency and disaster relief
“We called ourselves the lifeboat crew,” one former staffer said, “to save as many babies as we can.”
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Source:
The Guardian
The End of an Era for US Foreign Aid
The rescue mission was born from crisis. On July 1, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the official closure of USAID, the primary U.S. agency for international development for over 60 years. The move followed a rapid dismantling process that began after President Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Responsibility for the remaining foreign assistance, slashed from $120 billion to $69 billion in managed contracts, was transferred to the State Department.
Administrative Chaos
The shutdown was preceded by a near-total freeze on foreign aid starting January 24, 2025. This action placed most of USAID's workforce on administrative leave, ultimately leading to layoffs for over 1,000 employees. According to Axios, the process was accelerated by Elon Musk, who acted as a cost-cutting advisor to the administration and pushed for the dismissal of top agency administrators.
Humanitarian aid waivers were applied inconsistently, creating widespread confusion and leaving dangerous gaps in critical services across the globe.
Read More
Source:
Yahoo News UK
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