US Democracy Under Siege: Does America Need a 'Democracy Delivers' Program?

The US Democracy Delivers Initiative was launched by former USAID Administrator Samantha Power to support emerging democracies. The initiative provided attention, support, and resources to reformers in countries like Armenia, Moldova, Maldives, Nepal, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.

However, an examination of the current US administration's actions raises questions about whether it needs its own democracy program. President Trump has been accused of corruption, with Senator Chris Murphy detailing his dealings in cryptocurrency on the Senate floor.

The president made $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency during his first year in office and used his position to help companies like Vulcan Elements secure a lucrative deal in Kazakhstan. The administration also awarded no-bid contracts worth billions of dollars to companies with ties to the president, including Palantir and Atlantic Industrial Coatings.

The free press has suffered under President Trump's administration, with the DOJ issuing subpoenas to New York Times reporters and the FBI raiding the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson. The administration has also pushed to restrict press access to the Pentagon and explore revoking broadcasting licenses for networks that aired programming critical of the president.

The SAVE America Act, which would disenfranchise voters by requiring proof of citizenship, is another example of the administration's attempts to undermine free and fair elections. With its track record of corruption and attacks on democracy, it's clear that the US needs a democracy program to ensure accountability and transparency in government.