Strategy, not charity

“Why Foreign Assistance Matters” was the topic of the April 14 World Affairs Council of Central Illinois program at Illini Country Club.

Chris Milligan, retired senior foreign service officer, told a packed audience “when used effectively, foreign assistance is strategy, not charity.” Milligan discussed the importance of the United States Agency for International Development and the impact of its dismantlement.

USAID was created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy.  It ceased operations on July 1, 2025.

Milligan worked for USAID for 31 years. He was a mission director in Madagascar and Burma, led the U.S. government’s response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and served in Iraq, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Ecuador. From 2018-2021 he was counselor to USAID – a senior-level adviser in the Washington office, providing strategic guidance on policy, management and operational issues. He is now cochair of the USAID Alumni Association. 

Milligan gave an impassioned talk about USAID and how it benefits the U.S. He said supporting a stable and prosperous world advances U.S. security and prosperity, particularly amid today’s global challenges. Milligan argues that we are living in a pivotal moment in history – the most consequential since the end of WWII, with the U.S. now questioning the post-WWII system it constructed.  

USAID is about diplomacy, defense and development.  USAID saved billions of lives and lifted hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty. Child mortality was cut in half.  HIV/AIDS treatment saved 25 million lives.  

Investments also protect U.S. interests by defending against pandemics and preventing health and agricultural threats coming to the U.S. For example, USAID helped control a pneumonic plague outbreak in Madagascar which prevented its spread to the U.S. It also contained wheat rust in Ethiopia and developed wheat rust-resistant strains. 

Milligan described how USAID is a frontline tool to national security. The U.S. presence helped strengthen societies and, in turn, reduced extremism. Giving people jobs and hope increases stability and also reduces drivers of illegal migration. USAID helped countries become democracies and provided support for free and fair elections. Countries with instability evolved into global partners.  This led to export growth and American job creation.  

“A lot of Americans didn’t understand what USAID did and how it protected America,” Milligan said, citing myths and misinformation. Foreign assistance is less than 1% of the federal budget. Highly accountable systems were in place to oversee spending. USAID employees had the highest educational level of any federal agency – including NASA.

One misinformation claim was that USAID sent $50 million to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas. In reality, USAID funded programs, including contraceptives, to combat HIV in the Gaza Province in Mozambique, Africa, a country with one of the highest HIV rates in the world.

Milligan never mentioned President Donald Trump’s name, but the July 1, 2025, shutdown of USAID was caused by the Trump administration and DOGE, led by Elon Musk. The 13,215-member staff was reduced to less than 100. The State Department assumed some remaining responsibilities, which Milligan says it is not equipped to handle.  

Loss of life, increased conflict and waning American influence are the results. Milligan says we are now in an era of democratic backsliding and international cooperation is weakening. “We’ve walked away from countries and people have died,” he said. The estimate is 500,000-1 million worldwide. By 2030, an additional 14 million deaths could occur.  

Milligan says China is filling the vacuum and taking our seat at the table. As the U.S. is reducing its diplomatic presence, China has the largest diplomatic network. It is now the world’s largest creditor. China produces more steel and dominates in renewal energy, shipbuilding and rare earth minerals. It has surpassed the U.S. in investment in research and development and is attracting international students. China is the top trading partner with 120 countries while engaging in predatory deals, impinging on other countries’ sovereignty.  

Milligan believes the U.S. is no longer the uncontested leader and isn’t the economic power we think it is. Other countries are making alliances, such as BRICS, an alliance among Brazil, China, Russia, Indonesia, South Africa and others. The European Union has signed trade agreements with South America and India.

At this defining moment in our history, he asks, “Who will shape the world that comes next?”  Milligan cites the importance of American leadership and says that the choices we make now will determine whether we remain a global leader, whether democratic values continue to shape the international system and what kind of world we leave behind. The U.S. leads in innovation, technology, higher education and finance. Milligan says we need to double down on these advantages. We also need to restore accountability and go back to core democratic values.  

The entire USAID was totally dismantled and is gone, but Milligan believes the industry will come back. It will need to be something new.  “As a world power, we need this tool,” he said. 

“USAID was created with the belief that helping nations build their own stability and growth was both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative,” Milligan told Illinois Times.  “For more than 60 years, Democrats and Republicans came together in support of that vision.” 

He is encouraged that when the Trump Administration proposed cutting foreign assistance by 50% in the FY 26 budget, “Republicans and Democrats came together to pass a strong foreign assistancebudget — an unmistakable bipartisan affirmation of the importance of American leadership in the world.”  

Karen Ackerman Witter is aware of the many benefits of USAID through her connections with Rotary. She also has a friend who worked in the global health industry, including international projects to address tuberculosis, who lost her job and career when USAID was dismantled.

What is WACCI?
The World Affairs Council of Central Illinois hosts a speaker series with recognized experts providing lectures on critical international issues. Students from area high schools, Lincoln Land Community College and University of Illinois Springfield are also invited to participate. 
Prior to his formal remarks, Chris Milligan met with three students from Lanphier High School and their social studies teacher, Brad Hodapp.  All had an interest in international affairs and asked highly insightful questions. Milligan shared his life experiences and advised students to “follow where your heart is leading you.”  
“I was genuinely impressed by the depth of understanding the high school students demonstrated on both national and global issues, Milligan told Illinois Times. “Their questions were thoughtful, sophisticated and often quite complex — reflecting a level of engagement that one does not see often. Many of the topics they raised do not lend themselves to simple answers, and I appreciated both their curiosity and their willingness to grapple with that complexity. I also greatly enjoyed my conversation with WACCI members and engaging with such a well-informed audience on important national issues.”
For more information about WACCI and upcoming programs, go to https://mywacci.org/.

This article appears in April 23-29, 2026.