The Rally to Restore Foreign Aid Now will be held on Wednesday, February 5, from 11:30-12:30 PM at the Upper Senate Park (Constitution & Delaware Ave NE) and will include speeches from members of Congress, bipartisan former government officials, and experts in the field. Members of the press will also be in attendance to cover the event. We ask participants to bring signs or posters to show their support. Members of the press, please fill out this form.
Rally Speakers
- Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD)
- Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22)
- Major General (Ret.) Dr. Paul Friedrichs
- Representative Sara Jacobs (CA-51)
- Atul Gawande, Former Head of Global Health for USAID
- Bama Athreya
- Jeremy Konyndyk
- Chris Milligan
Mission
President Trump and Congress must act now to restore vital foreign aid programs, ensuring bipartisan support to keep America safe, strong and prosperous. The pause and possible termination of foreign aid activities is detrimental to the United States and our allies, and we urge the President and Congress to prevent further harm.
About the Organizers
This rally is being organized by Friends of Foreign Aid, a grassroots effort composed of retired Senior Foreign Service members, USAID program implementer’s staff, nonprofit organizations, and other senior leaders in foreign assistance. This group came together in response to the administration’s executive order halting USAID projects, and the recent events involving the dissolution of USAID. Organizers include LeAnna Marr, Alicia Dinerstein, MaryBeth Hastings, and Isabel Rogers.
Any press or other communication can be directed to us through this form.
Resources
This is a peaceful bipartisan rally, which has a legal permit to organize, and capitol police will be on standby to address any concerns. At this time, we do not expect any counter-protesters or any sort of violence, but if you are concerned about safety, here are a couple resources to help you prepare for the rally: