The beginning of 2025 saw significant cuts to US foreign aid, most notably with the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since its establishment in 1961, USAID has implemented programs in global health, disaster relief, socioeconomic development, environmental protection, democratic governance and education. What are the implications of the sharp funding cuts and other changes to U.S. foreign aid efforts both for the countries that USAID worked in as well as the U.S.' strategic interests and leadership around the world?

This program will feature several panelists with extensive expertise and experience working on development and humanitarian projects for USAID in countries around the world such as Haiti, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Kenya. The speakers will share their insights on the recent changes and cuts to U.S. foreign aid and perspectives on the future of foreign aid.

About the Speakers

Brenda Barrett is a democracy and governance expert with nearly 25 years of experience working with or for USAID, including extensive service with USAID/OTI. She has designed and led peace-building and political stabilization programs in more than 25 countries, including Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. Brenda has also worked for UNHCR, Peace Corps Headquarters and as a volunteer in Nicaragua, and with private sector implementers, earning a reputation for building strategic relationships in complex, politically sensitive environments. She holds a Ph.D. and MSc in international development from Tulane University, and a BA in politics from the University of San Francisco.

Karen Klimowski is a seasoned international development expert with more than 30 years of experience designing and leading U.S. foreign assistance programs across Africa and Asia. As a senior foreign service officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), she served in eight countries—including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, the Philippines and India—where she led complex programs in global health, climate resilience, governance, and crisis response. Karen played a pivotal role in the U.S. government’s COVID-19 response in India, managing interagency coordination and diplomatic outreach during one of the most challenging global health crises in modern history. A former Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone, she is deeply committed to democratic values, inclusive development, and cross-sector partnerships that promote stability and opportunity. Now teaching applied development at the graduate level, Karen combines academic rigor with real-world insight. She is known for her strategic vision, mentorship, and ability to navigate the intersection of diplomacy, defense and development. Based in California, she continues to advise, write and advocate on issues of global equity and U.S. foreign policy reform. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in physiology from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s in public health from San Diego State University. She hails from Santa Cruz, California. 

Nicole Van Abel is an internationally recognized environmental scientist and senior technical advisor with more than 20 years of experience advancing climate resilience, water security, and equitable natural resource management across the globe. She most recently served for almost 9 years as a senior water resources management advisor at USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, where she advised and evaluated large-scale, multi-sectoral climate and water programs in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Van Abel’s work bridges science, policy and practice with technical expertise in environmental health, engineering, water security, food security and resilience. She has designed multi-sectoral climate adaptation programs, participated in quantitative and qualitative evaluations, shaped U.S. climate adaptation strategy, and worked with partners including NASA to use remote sensing tools to assess the impact of soil and water conservation interventions on food security and resilience. She was an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at both USEPA and USAID. Van Abel holds a Ph.D. in environmental health from the University of Washington and an MS in environmental sciences and engineering from UNC–Chapel Hill.

Our moderator Jodi Chan is the institutional donor partnerships lead at the International Budget Partnership (IBP), an organization that works to strengthen international standards for fiscal openness and encourage governments to undertake ambitious reforms to plan, finance, and implement solutions to local development challenges. Chan manages IBP’s relationships with key government and philanthropic funders. Prior to joining IBP, Chan held fundraising roles at Plan International and the Center for American Progress. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, with a double major in international development studies and Spanish, and holds a Master’s degree in international development from The George Washington University.