In Medford, we know the value of community. We know that when one person stumbles, neighbors step up. But right now, a reckless political decision has put both our local economy and America’s global reputation on the line — and it’s time we speak out.

The shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is more than just a bureaucratic shake-up in Washington. It’s a disaster for Medford’s farmers, small businesses, and working families.

Nearly 500 USAID-funded programs have been terminated, halting life-saving global food aid, shuttering health clinics, and freezing millions of dollars in agricultural contracts — many of which directly benefit Oregon’s growers and exporters.

This is where global decisions hit local realities. Farmers in the Rogue Valley, who once had steady contracts tied to USAID food programs, are now watching their harvests sit idle. Truckers and small business owners who help move these goods are seeing routes dry up. And for what? To score political points?

Let’s be clear: USAID isn’t some bloated government handout. It costs taxpayers less than $1 a year and acts as a major engine for American agriculture and trade.

It buys food grown in places like Medford and sends it to famine-stricken regions, creating stable markets for our crops while also saving lives. But now, with contracts frozen and food aid stalled, our farmers are losing out, and millions overseas are left on the brink of hunger.

Here’s the part that should make all of us furious: while local farmers lose contracts and families abroad go hungry, misinformation spreads.

The idea that USAID is wasteful is a lie. In fact, it’s one of the most cost-effective tools the U.S. has for promoting global stability, preventing future conflicts, and boosting American exports.

This shutdown isn’t just bad for business — it’s a threat to national security. With USAID’s global health programs halted, we’ve lost vital disease monitoring in dozens of countries. Bird flu surveillance has stopped. Monitoring for drug-resistant tuberculosis has been cut off.

If the past few years taught us anything, it’s that diseases don’t respect borders. Stopping these programs puts all of us at risk.

But here’s the real kicker — this didn’t have to happen. The choice to suspend USAID’s operations wasn’t about saving money or cutting waste. It was about politics. It was about power. And it came at the expense of farmers in Medford, humanitarian workers around the globe, and millions of people who depend on U.S. leadership in times of crisis.

Congress needs to act now. Lawmakers must block any federal budget that doesn’t restore USAID’s independence and fully reinstate its workforce. They need to reject the misinformation that’s been weaponized against this vital agency and recognize its importance to both American communities and our standing in the world.

In Medford, we take pride in hard work and helping others. That spirit shouldn’t stop at the Rogue Valley’s borders. We can — and should — demand better from those in power. It’s time to protect American jobs, safeguard our local economy, and uphold the values that define who we are.

Mary Ruesch lives in Medford.