Contractors hired by the Trump administration have removed the memorial wall honoring fallen staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from the agency’s now-closed headquarters. There is no immediate information on the memorial’s new location, sparking concerns from families of the fallen staff, lawmakers, and former USAID employees.
The memorial wall, which contains individual tiles commemorating 99 USAID staffers who lost their lives while serving overseas, was a symbol of the agency’s longstanding commitment to global foreign assistance. USAID was established in the early 1960s under President John F. Kennedy to provide aid and support to developing nations.
However, in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the USAID agency underwent significant downsizing. Trump’s administration, along with Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk, swiftly dismantled the agency’s operations, closing its headquarters and terminating the majority of its staff and projects. The memorial wall removal comes as part of broader efforts to erase the legacy of the foreign assistance agency, which Trump and Musk viewed as inefficient and incompatible with their political agenda.
Concerns Over Memorial’s Relocation
The removal of the memorial wall, which previously adorned the lobby of USAID’s former headquarters, has raised concerns about its future treatment. The memorial commemorates USAID staff who died in the line of duty around the world. For decades, Foreign Service Day ceremonies have been held annually to add the names of fallen workers to the memorial.
Families of the deceased and former USAID staff have expressed uncertainty about whether the memorial will be properly respected during the ongoing breakup of the agency. On Wednesday, contractors were observed working at the spot where the memorial had stood, while a separate plaque honoring support staff who died while assisting USAID’s mission was also being handled.
Future Location of the Memorial Wall Remains Unclear
The federal government has posted a contract for $41,142.16 to remove and relocate the memorial wall by June 6, but neither the State Department nor the contractors have provided information about its new destination. A security guard at the agency’s former headquarters suggested that the memorial may be relocated to the State Department, which is overseeing the remnants of USAID’s work.
Other suggestions for the memorial’s new home include the Smithsonian National Museum of American History or the National Cathedral, though a former USAID official noted that some have proposed placing the wall in a rented office. These discussions reflect the ongoing debate over how best to preserve the legacy of fallen foreign aid workers as USAID’s future remains uncertain.
