Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 4: The Tibetan exile community faces growing uncertainty following the recent announcement that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is planned to be shut down on Monday, by tech billionaire and Chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk.
This decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to ban all foreign aid globally, leading to the immediate layoff of nearly 400 USAID contract workers and the suspension of all foreign assistance programs for 90 days. “With regards to the USAID stuff, I went over it with (the president) in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down,” Musk stated on Monday. He added that he had confirmed this decision with Trump multiple times.
The decision to halt USAID operations has raised serious concerns within the Tibetan exile community, as U.S. foreign assistance has been a major source of finance in sustaining various Tibetan programs through the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and other NGOs. Last year the United States granted $23 million to support Tibetan programs.
Two months ago, on November 25, 2024, the USAID in collaboration with The Tibet Fund and CTA, announced a new program to support Tibetan communities in India and Nepal. This five-year initiative, titled “Strengthening Economic, Social, and Cultural Resilience of Tibetan Communities in South Asia”, was designed to enhance self-reliance and cultural preservation.
With USAID’s closure imminent, this program, along with other longstanding initiatives aimed at supporting Tibetan refugees, is now in jeopardy. Many Tibetans, especially those dependent on U.S. assistance for education, healthcare, and cultural preservation, are left in limbo.
Penpa Tsering, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration, while speaking at STS Darjeeling during his Northeast visit last week, acknowledged the dire situation. “The U.S. has frozen all foreign aid for 90 days, which includes aid for Tibetans. They are reviewing the funding. We cannot always expect support from other countries, including India, as policies can change,” he stated. He assured that the CTA is engaging with U.S. officials to address the issue.
The decision to dismantle USAID has sparked widespread controversy in Washington, D.C., where critics argue that it represents a constitutional crisis. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned the move, stating, “This reflects an attempt by Musk and the billionaire elite to take control of U.S. foreign policy for self-interest.” Murphy’s remarks came during a press conference outside the shuttered USAID headquarters, where Trump administration officials have locked out workers for the second consecutive day.
Furthermore, USAID’s website reportedly went offline on Saturday, and two senior security officials at the agency were reportedly dismissed for attempting to block DOGE’s access to classified materials. With USAID now under the control of the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed as its acting administrator.
For decades, USAID has served as a critical component of U.S. foreign policy, providing assistance to vulnerable communities and countering geopolitical adversaries like China. The agency’s support for Tibetans in exile has been a major part of American efforts to bolster Tibetan identity and self-determination against Beijing’s influence.
4 Responses
Dear friends, while in exile situation, speaking to you from heart and personal experience, it’s crucial to cut on non-essential items. Its 5 minutes to 12 to address this serious issue. This exile community is small compared to the problems millions of people are currently facing worldwide. Any incoming aid should follow humanitarian principles of such and save and support life necessities of all Tibetans regardless their civilian or monastic status, children’s education, medical aid, food aid to seniors, monasteries and those who are disabled or not coping well. The “aid” should not be spent on “culture promotions”, political activities and lavish offerings to dignitaries, neither for buying more gold for Shakyamuni statues. Whatever your faith, please stop being naive about the US who themselves have burden of humanitarian problems to resolve , further on, tampering with their own politics have always proved me wrong so far and leaves us all vulnerable to counter attacks. India has enabled all of us to live as long and as religiously as we are capable of .
I insist on the point above as rather essential: please revise budget and spending policies immediately, if you aim to “save culture, save the language, save Dharma” you need to save LIVES first. If Tibetan people face more suffering and population decline , institutions will fall into foreign hands and there won’t be enough people to continue in matter of another 50 years. With folded hands I’m asking you : all incoming humanitarian help needs to be redirected to saving lives, supporting families , children’s education, senior and all medical care . Indian society is likewise very capitalistic even while it supports Hindu Samaya of “universal brotherhood” ( sharing is caring ) and difficult to compete with , business-wise. May your following decisions and steps to future avoid and escape every frustration and argument ????
I totally agree with Tenzin W; Tibetan voters should not make decision just based on one issue; look at the character of the candidate and examine thoroughly what he or she has done in the past and what he or she plans to do in the future. It is sad that “president” Elon Musk is trying to close US AID, but I don’t think he is going to succeed because of the Democratic Congressional opposition. Initially,
US AID was started by President John F. Kennedy, who was one of the smartest and wisest US presidents, to help the needy and the unfortunates in the world. The world not only adore and love JFK, but also the United States founded on the principles of democracy and fundamental rights of the people. Well, what is the image of US today in the world? China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are very happy; somebody else is doing their job. I pray that may the wise and truth prevail over the injustice and just plain lies.
I have always been critical of Trump because I believe he lacks decency, kindness, and compassion. He is a selfish man. Unfortunately, some uninformed Tibetans supported him, falling for his deceptive rhetoric. Like many others whom Trump has misled for decades, they too have been fooled. If you truly care, I urge you to educate yourself and make a more informed decision next time.
A whole bunch of Tibetans voted for Trump because of his China rhetoric, it’s tragic.