I don’t know where to start to comment about this insanity. I’ll just share my personal perspective.

I’ve always been proud about two things as an American: the Peace Corps and USAID. To me, they are symbols of an altruistic country who deeply cares about humanity. Both are the legacy of an inspirational national leader, John F. Kennedy. And both are the best tools to make the US “safer, stronger and more prosperous”.

I first started meeting USAID staff in the early 1980s when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer. I was impressed with their passion and care. Such good Americans. And so smart. And so loved by the locals for their efforts to help them.

In the 40 years since then I have crossed paths with so many USAID staff and their projects (and just recently completed a USAID Feed the Future contract in Ghana) — so many of them ex-Peace Corps Volunteers. I’ve just been so proud of the efforts of my nation (by birth) to help the needy people that we share this planet with.

My concern goes out to the millions of vulnerable people worldwide who are suddenly seeing the logo of two shaking hands withdrawn from their lives. And my heart goes out to those USAID staff who have committed their lives to making our world a better place who have been told to immediately shutter their life-giving projects and come home to a country which no longer seems to uphold those values of a altruistic America which JFK set forth.

“Thank you for your service.”