In Washington, works have commenced to dismantle the memorial wall dedicated to fallen staff members at the now-defunct headquarters of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This follows the closure of the building, which was a decision made under the Trump administration, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the memorial’s future location. The wall had tiles commemorating 99 USAID personnel who lost their lives while carrying out their duties worldwide.
This agency was established during President John F. Kennedy’s tenure in the early 1960s, with congressional backing, as a dedicated foreign aid institution. However, under President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, there was a concerted push to dismantle USAID. This led to a swift closure of the headquarters, resulting in the termination of most employees and projects within weeks of Trump’s ascension to office.
Visible changes were immediate, with the removal of USAID’s signage and banners from its Washington buildings, effectively erasing traces of the agency which Trump and Musk criticized for being counterproductive to Trump’s policies. This restructuring has raised concerns among the families of the deceased, lawmakers, and remaining staff about the memorial’s future, amidst the agency’s disbandment. This concern was particularly pronounced as Foreign Service Day approached, which traditionally involved ceremonies to honor new names added to the memorial.
Now, the former headquarters stands closed off, with the once-prominent names of the fallen no longer present in the lobby. Observations on Wednesday indicated individuals working on where the memorial used to stand, in addition to a separate plaque commemorating support staff killed while working for the agency’s cause.
According to a federal notice on Tuesday, a $41,142.16 contract has been secured for the removal and relocation of the memorial wall by June 6. Despite the ambiguity of its final destination, information from a security guard at the old USAID lobby suggests that the memorial is being transferred to the State Department, which continues to manage residual USAID programs.
There have been discussions among supporters about relocating the memorial to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History or the National Cathedral. An alternative suggestion is to house it in a rented office space. This comes from a former USAID official privy to the proposals, choosing to remain anonymous due to potential backlash.