PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

 What is USAID.GOV?  

 

USAID (United States Agency for International Development) was a U.S. government agency that provided aid to developing countries. Its main roles included:

 

- Humanitarian Assistance - Emergency aid for regions affected by disasters and conflicts  
- Economic Development - Support for poverty reduction and job creation  
- Healthcare & Education - Improvements in public health and education support  
- Promotion of Democracy - Assistance in political stability and human rights protection  

 

Through these activities, USAID aimed to promote global stability and development.

 

 Annual Budget and Abolition  

 

USAID's annual budget for the 2023 fiscal year was approximately $40 billion (about ¥6.6 trillion). This massive budget was fully funded by taxpayer money, yet there were frequent concerns about unclear expenditures and misalignments with U.S. national interests. As a result, the agency was effectively abolished on February 7, 2025.

 

Following this decision, nearly all of the more than 10,000 employees were laid off, leaving only about 300 staff members to handle remaining administrative tasks. Additionally, the official USAID website (USAID.GOV) was shut down and is no longer accessible.

 

 Do Similar Tax-Funded Agencies Exist in Japan?  

 

Could there be similar tax-dependent organizations in Japan? If vast amounts of taxpayer money are being allocated to unnecessary agencies, a reform similar to that of USAID may also be needed in Japan. Wouldn’t cutting such wasteful expenditures be a welcome change for the public?