Maany Peyvan

Opinion: America benefits from fighting global hunger, but progress is in peril In this opinion piece, two veterans of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dina Esposito and Maany Peyvan, argue that the struggle to reduce global hunger has benefited Americans and that t...

Embarrassingly large headshot aside, eager to share this piece I co-wrote about foreign aid cuts to fight global hunger, why they hurt us, and how they betray one of the proudest legacies we have as Americans.

www.agri-pulse.com/articles/230...

If @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social’s new book reads anything like this essay, it will be a massive contribution to our understanding of tuberculosis, landing at precisely the time our govt is giving up the fight against the disease. Can’t wait to read.

“When you meet those dying children and look into their eyes and hold their hands and feel faint heartbeats flutter, you can’t bear the gleeful laughter. You see children just like your own and hang your head in shame.”

Absolutely devastating but important read about the cuts to foreign aid.

As Ebola Spreads in Uganda, Trump Aid Freeze Hinders Effort to Contain It, U.S. Officials Fear Two more people are reported dead from the disease, and dozens are in isolation, as the outbreak grows.

“In the current outbreak, he said, ‘With no U.S.A.I.D. money and C.D.C. expertise, it was like Uganda was left to die.’” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...

It’s been six days since Chief Justice Roberts’s “administrative” stay in the foreign aid cases. That almost certainly means (1) someone’s dissenting; (2) the Court is trying to reach a compromise; or (3) both. Hard to be sure which it is, but the continuing pause is itself producing plenty of harm.

John Green Tackles An Injustice Called Tuberculosis With his new book 'Everything Is Tuberculosis,' celebrity author John Green is breathing new life into tuberculosis advocacy

How am I feeling? It's summed up in this conversation with @madhupai.bsky.social: "I think hope is the correct response to the miracle of human consciousness. I am concerned (and discouraged) in the face of our historical moment. But I refuse to respond with despair."
www.forbes.com/sites/madhuk...

Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.

Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵

U.S. Terminates Funding for Polio, H.I.V., Malaria and Nutrition Programs Around the World Here are some of the 5,800 contracts the Trump administration formally canceled this week in a wave of terse emails.

“People will die, but we will never know, because even the programs to count the dead are cut.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/h...

A goose, it says "I think I will cause problems on purpose."

The Project for Awesome is a very fun and silly but also important event that raises millions of dollars for global health and other charities voted on by YOU. It has just begun. Please join us at ProjectforAwesome.com/live

USAID Lifesaving Aid Remains Halted Despite Rubio’s Promise A new directive puts further exemptions on hold. Aid workers also say the U.S. government has made it impossible to pay partners around the world.

Even though Rubio promised life-saving aid wouldn't be interrupted, it has essentially been halted worldwide, interrupting HIV and TB treatment and threatening millions of lives. People are dying today because of these chaotic, inconsistent stop work orders. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...

I Came to Congress to Gut Foreign Aid. I Was Wrong Ten years ago, Congressman Ted Yoho came to Washington with a mission to cut foreign spending. Now, he explains why it was a mistake.

Rare contrition from a politician, let alone a member of the GOP targeting USAID. Ted Yoho showing a lot of courage.

time.com/7221668/ted-...

The world is so lucky to have an advocate like @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social who has always sought to use his platform for progress.

The 2025 Project for Awesome, which doesn't actually start until tomorrow, has already raised nearly $500,000 for organizations like Partners in Health and Save the Children. Pretty awesome! projectforawesome.com

Thanks for lifting!

At USAID, I Prioritized the Wrong Argument As Republicans seek to demolish the agency, its defenders should appeal to a higher principle than self-interest.

Worth a read: Maany Peyvan argues that we should make a less selfish case for USAID. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

The Wrong Case for Foreign Aid As Republicans seek to demolish USAID, its defenders should appeal to a higher principle than self-interest.

“Musk and Trump are redefining what it means to be American: small-hearted rather than generous,” the former USAID official Maany Peyvan writes. “To respond by arguing that foreign aid simply benefits Americans is to accede to their view, not combat it”:

The Wrong Case for Foreign Aid As Republicans seek to demolish USAID, its defenders should appeal to a higher principle than self-interest.

The motto of USAID is "From the American people." But we've invested too much in arguing that foreign aid is for the American people. My piece in the Atlantic on foregrounding the moral case for foreign aid: www.theatlantic.com/internationa...