Stop President Trump and Elon Musk from abolishing USAID and defend the agency and Congress's constitutional power over federal spending.

And who’s going to stop him? We are. We’re going to stop him. ... We’re going to defend USAID all the way. ... We’re not going to allow this to happen. It will not stand.

Raskin committed to stopping Elon Musk and President Trump from shutting down USAID and to defending the agency against what he described as illegal and unconstitutional interference with congressional spending authority.

Full Remarks: Raskin Condemns President Trump and Elon Musk’s “Illegal” and “Unconstitutional” Abolition of USAID at Press Conference Outside the Agency | Press Releases | Congressman Jamie Raskin
secondary · other · model gpt-5.5

EO 14169, signed January 20, 2025, directed agencies to pause new obligations and disbursements of foreign development assistance during a 90-day review.

The Trump administration formally began a broad foreign aid funding pause that affected USAID-administered assistance, creating the core threat the promise sought to stop.

never same_term

Federal Register: Executive Order 14169, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%

Axios reported Raskin called the USAID shutdown effort unconstitutional interference with Congress's power during a press conference outside USAID headquarters.

Raskin publicly opposed Musk and Trump’s USAID actions on constitutional power-of-the-purse grounds, showing concrete advocacy but not delivery.

partial same_term A for effort

Axios: Trump brushes back Musk as Democrats plot DOGE resistance
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%

AP reported the Trump administration and Musk had begun dismantling USAID through stopped work, spending interruptions, employee removals, and website disruption.

The dismantling of USAID proceeded despite Democratic opposition, weighing against fulfillment of the promise to stop it.

never same_term

Associated Press: Trump and Musk move to dismantle USAID, igniting battle with Democratic lawmakers
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 88%

AP reported a federal judge issued an injunction blocking DOGE from further USAID actions and requiring restored computer access for affected employees.

A court temporarily checked DOGE’s USAID dismantling, partly aligning with the promise’s constitutional-power rationale, but this was not Raskin’s enactment and did not permanently save USAID.

partial same_term

Associated Press: Judge rules DOGE's USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 84%

Politico reported the Fourth Circuit lifted the injunction that had blocked DOGE and Musk from continuing USAID cuts.

The temporary judicial protection was reversed on appeal, allowing the dismantling effort to continue and undercutting fulfillment.

never same_term

Politico: Appeals Court clears the way for Musk, DOGE to resume cuts to USAID
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 84%

The Clerk records H.R. 4 passing the House 214-212 on June 12, 2025; Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, voted Nay.

Raskin took a concrete vote against a rescissions bill cutting foreign assistance, but the bill passed the House anyway.

partial same_term A for effort

Office of the Clerk, U.S. House: Roll Call 168, H.R. 4, Rescissions Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

Public Law 119-28 rescinded unobligated balances across foreign assistance accounts, including $125 million from USAID operating expenses and billions from development and disaster assistance.

Congress enacted rescissions that reduced USAID and related foreign assistance funding despite Raskin’s opposition, showing the spending-power defense did not prevail.

never same_term

GovInfo: Rescissions Act of 2025, Public Law 119-28
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

The Guardian reported Secretary Rubio announced roughly 5,200 of about 6,200 USAID programs were terminated, with remaining programs moved to State Department administration.

The large-scale cancellation of USAID programs demonstrates that the agency was not successfully defended from dismantling.

never same_term

The Guardian: Rubio says 83% of USAid programs terminated after six-week purge
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%

The Guardian reported USAID’s final day as an independent organization and its folding into the State Department after the administration’s cuts.

By July 1, 2025, USAID no longer operated independently, so the promise to stop abolition or effective dismantling was not fulfilled.

never same_term

The Guardian: Obama and Bush call Trump's USAID closure a travesty as report warns of 14 million extra deaths
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%