What Is USAID?

When it's too dirty for the CIA, give it to USAID.

Feb 15, 2025

“When it's too dirty for the CIA, give it to USAID.” - Mike Benz

That statement has been making the rounds lately, especially in one of the many podcasts Mike Benz has appeared on in recent weeks.

Pretty bold claim.

So, what exactly is USAID? And who is Mike Benz?

NBC News describes Benz as:

“Michael Benz, a conservative crusader against online censorship, appears to have a secret history as an alt-right persona.” - NBC News

LOL… I had to include this because it’s so absurd. Hopefully, it gives some of you a laugh.

In reality, Benz is a former State Department official who worked on cybersecurity and internet policy during Trump’s first term.

Recently, he’s been making waves discussing USAID—an entity of the U.S. government that has reportedly been involved in covert operations for decades.

USAID: What It Claims to Be vs. What It Might Be Doing

At first glance, USAID seems like an organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to countries in need. That’s certainly what I thought.

According to USA.gov:

USAID stands for the United States Agency for International Development. It is the principal U.S. agency that extends assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.

Sounds noble. But Benz and other critics argue that USAID plays a role beyond humanitarian aid—one that involves influencing foreign governments and even online discourse. And all of it is funded by U.S. taxpayers.

Why This Matters

This is the first time I’m really digging into USAID, and the conversation around it is heating up in political circles. Instead of giving you a definitive take, I want to share some resources so you can investigate for yourself:

What is USAID? How it works and what could happen if Trump and Musk shut it down - NBC News
What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'? - BBC
How spending $153M to pay its bills put USAID in DOGE’s crosshairs - Politico
USAID Failed Because Foreign Aid Doesn’t Work - CATO Institute
At USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs Deep - Whitehouse.gov

These sources offer different perspectives—some in favor of USAID, others against it. I haven’t fact-checked them, but I encourage you to read them and form your own opinion.

Draw Your Own Conclusions

I’ve read all the articles above, but the source that has influenced me most is Joe Rogan’s interview with Benz.

Listening to Benz, then reading these articles, one thing is clear:

One side of the story is false.

Which one? That’s for you to decide.

The bigger point I want to make is this:

We are at our best when we read widely, listen to different sides, and think critically. Our job isn’t to accept narratives at face value but to question, challenge, and analyze.

Go Dig Deeper

I kept this post short so you can use the time to investigate. The allegations against USAID are serious, and we owe it to ourselves to stay informed.