In a striking display of dissent, former officials from the now-defunct U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department are banding together to resist the Trump administration’s policies.
According to the Daily Caller, these ex-employees are forming communities, conducting workshops on noncooperation, and exploring acts of subtle rebellion with discussions of a potential national strike to voice their concerns over the state of democracy.
Their efforts trace back to significant changes within government agencies under the current administration. The State Department initiated a move to dismantle USAID, leading to the agency’s official closure on July 1. This decision left many employees out of work and sparked frustration among those affected.
In February, after a federal judge permitted the Trump administration to carry out a staffing purge, USAID employees faced a harsh reality. They were given just 15 minutes to collect personal belongings from the agency’s headquarters. During this brief window, staff were explicitly warned against bringing prohibited items like weapons or hazardous materials into the building.
The abrupt closure and purge fueled a growing movement among former officials to push back against the administration. These individuals, once tasked with international aid and diplomacy, are now focusing their skills on domestic opposition. They have united under initiatives like DemocracyAID, an organization led by ex-USAID employees dedicated to challenging the current leadership.
DemocracyAID aims to foster a network of like-minded individuals ready to undermine the Trump administration’s agenda. The group has gained traction online, with its Instagram account, @friendsofUSAID, amassing over 88,000 followers. They have also organized numerous meetings to strategize and build solidarity among supporters.
Beyond gatherings, DemocracyAID offers training sessions on various skills to amplify their message. These include guidance on effective communication and crafting opinion pieces for local newspapers. As Danielle Reiff, a former USAID diplomat and DemocracyAID founder, explained to NOTUS, “Letter writing: how to write op-eds to a local newspaper for a local story.”
The organization emphasizes starting with small, manageable actions to grow its movement. Ro Tucci, co-leader of DemocracyAID, told NOTUS, “The whole point of it is to start off slow.” He added, “People are just taking coffee breaks together. And that’s what we’re encouraging them to do.” Workshops on noncooperation are a key part of their approach, teaching participants how to resist through subtle means. These sessions aim to prepare individuals for minor acts of defiance that could escalate over time. Some discussions even touch on the possibility of coordinating a nationwide strike to make a broader impact.
Adding a historical twist, some former officials are circulating an old CIA pamphlet titled “Simple Sabotage” among trusted government allies. This document outlines methods to disrupt operations through negligence and inefficiency. As the pamphlet states, “Widespread practice of simple sabotage will harass and demoralize enemy administrators and police.”
The CIA guide suggests reversing typical work habits to cause disruption in subtle ways. It advises, “The saboteur may have to reverse his thinking … Where he formerly thought of keeping his tools sharp, he should now let them grow dull; surfaces that formerly were lubricated now should be sanded; normally diligent, he should now be lazy and careless; and so on.” These tactics are meant to frustrate and slow down administrative processes without overt confrontation.
Current and former federal employees are voicing deep concerns about the direction of the country. A current federal official told NOTUS, “Take it from those of us who worked in authoritarian countries: We’ve become one.” This sentiment reflects a growing unease among those who feel democracy is under threat.
Some officials believe the administration’s actions may backfire by unleashing a motivated opposition. Another current federal official remarked to NOTUS, “They were so quick to disband AID, the group that supposedly instigates color revolutions. But they’ve done a very foolish thing.” The official continued, “You just released a bunch of well-trained individuals into your population. If you kept our offices going and had us play solitaire in the office, it might have been safer to keep your regime.”
Critics are drawing parallels between current policies and past authoritarian regimes. A former government conflict expert told NOTUS, “Fascism is not creative.” The expert elaborated, “There’s only so many ways to do it. That’s why it’s almost cliché to the point where we ask, ‘What are we, Darth Vader? The Empire? The Nazis?’” The same expert noted that while oppressive strategies may seem repetitive, resistance can take many forms. “The comparisons draw ridicule because people who don’t know enough about it don’t realize there aren’t too many ways to do it,” the expert told NOTUS. “So, the tactics to counter them will still work, and there’s way more ways to be creative,” they added.
As this movement gains momentum, its long-term impact remains unclear. Former officials are determined to use their experience and networks to challenge what they see as a threat to democratic values. Whether their efforts will lead to significant change or further conflict is yet to be seen.