Cat Kirk

Working on newborn/child health + development, social justice advocate, believer in the power of empathy and humility. Former @PIH @SavetheChildren. She/her.

[Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) @ECDAction]

📢 Join @Georgetown & partners, for a timely webinar on sustaining progress for children and families amid shifting global funding realities.

🗓 April 29, 2026
⏰9:00–10:30 AM EDT

🔗 Register https://t.co/ox9jyYp0GA

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

Great to read about efforts to ensure children with disabilities in Zimbabwe receive the care and support they need to have adequate nutrition, a critical component for children's development https://t.co/YXpjQVXyGh

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

Waiting for your explanation, @SecRubio

[Jason Kint @jason_kint]

This 2016 video is just an incredible two minutes. Every second of it. It will be in the documentary.

[Sen. Lisa Murkowski @lisamurkowski]

This week, I met with some Alaskan USAID employees. They not only informed me of the confusing and callous handling of personnel matters by OPM and DOGE, but they also painted an incredibly troubling picture of what the world looks like without humanitarian assistance from the United States. Although I support measures to find inefficiencies within the agency, USAID’s mission to keep people healthy and safe in even the most remote corners of the world should not be eliminated.

Dr. Peter Kerndt, an Alaskan physician who has dedicated his career to treating tuberculosis in Alaska and around the world, shared with me, “America is great, because America is good.” It is imperative we not lose sight of that.

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

#USAID was a major donor to @UNICEFCambodia and other partners to strengthen the government’s child protection system and advance inclusive education, health and nutrition services. China is filling critical gaps for Cambodian children that @SecRubio abandoned. @ChrisMurphyCT

[UNICEF China @UNICEFChina]

The Govt of China @cidcaofficial, Cambodia & UNICEF are supporting inclusive education, health, nutrition & hygiene for vulnerable children in Cambodia.

This will benefit newborns, children with disabilities, children at risk of malnutrition & ethnic minorities in remote areas.

[Jeremy Konyndyk @JeremyKonyndyk]

As I told CNN earlier, most of the disinformation about @USAID falls into one of three categories:

▶️ Outright fabrications

▶️ Real programs, but not USAID-funded

▶️ Programs that make sense if you take 2 minutes to understand them

[Atul Gawande @Atul_Gawande]

The shut down of USAID and its activities that reach hundreds of millions is already harming humanity and America. https://t.co/dsjICeAduX

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

@Atul_Gawande Thank you, @Atul_Gawande, for using your voice to speak up.

[Atul Gawande @Atul_Gawande]

Furthermore, USAID’s top two security officials were put on leave yesterday after refusing DOGE access to security systems, personnel files, and classified information. https://t.co/rHEfYDqE23

[Joaquin Castro @JoaquinCastrotx]

Trump’s attempt to destroy USAID undermines one of our most effective tools to build American influence, fight global poverty, and confront countries like China.

The last time Trump tried this, Republicans in Congress raised their voice to stop it.

Will they do so again today?

[Senator Chris Coons @ChrisCoons]

Eliminating USAID and undercutting America’s role in international assistance makes Americans less safe. It debilitates American leadership and leaves the world more open to Chinese influence. It would be a massive mistake.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee @SFRCdems]

To those considering consolidating or eliminating a premiere U.S. national security agency @USAID, ask yourselves:

— Does this make America safe?
— Does this make America stronger?
— Does this America more prosperous?

The answer is NO.

[Atul Gawande @Atul_Gawande]

My article on the ongoing, likely unconstitutional funding freeze at USAID now imperiling millions of lives: “This is not a pause. It is a destruction.”

USAID is also where the Administration is testing out its playbook for eviscerating other agencies.
https://t.co/P7FpwQU47C

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee @SFRCdems]

"@USAID is, by statute, an independent establishment outside of @StateDept. Any proposal to modify that structure would require an Act of Congress."

- @SenatorShaheen, @SenBrianSchatz, @RepGregoryMeeks & @RepLoisFrankel to Acting Administrator Jason Gray⬇️https://t.co/5viJBGzMfb

[Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer]

Trump's been purging and intimidating USAID employees.

Now there’s a rumor he'll dissolve USAID as an independent agency.

It was created by JFK and established in law to further our national security and spread hope.

This'd be illegal and against our national interests.

[House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems @HouseForeign]

USAID should be an independent voice for US soft power, and any efforts to reorganize it must go through Congress.

RMs Meeks, Shaheen, Frankel, Schatz letter to USAID acting Administrator:

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

So glad this work is finally out! A model of health, development + nutritional follow-up of small vulnerable newborns integrated in Rwanda's public health system #SSNB #nurturingcare https://t.co/wKaxnsfFtJ @PIH @PIH_Rwanda @WHO @anshimyiryo @Matt_Nemerimana @RBCRwanda

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

@KrisnaSapkota @NutritionForDev @PLOSGPH Really interesting paper! Thank you for sharing!

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

Proud of this work with @NutritionForDev in @PLOSGPH to understand how we can better support #nutriton for children with feeding difficulties and #disabilities
https://t.co/hOxSJoJ5Ju

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

And a number of high quality #inclusive illustrations were developed and are available through the @UNICEF @NutritionForDev #IYCF Image Bank https://t.co/WvIIvkF1Gm

[Cat Kirk @catmkirk]

Following this review, @USGforChildren supported development of a resource bank and accompanying #advocacy brief available at https://t.co/CH8YBlVyP5