Ashland teacher's USAID work thrust into national spotlight

Bryce Smedley's diversity scholarship program in Myanmar was mocked by President Trump before USAID's dismantling

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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An Ashland teacher's work designing a USAID diversity scholarship program in Myanmar was thrust into the national spotlight when President Donald Trump mocked the $45 million program. Bryce Smedley, a former Foreign Service officer with USAID, returned to Ashland after the agency was dismantled in 2025, sharing his experiences at a local event.

Why it matters

The closure of USAID, the largest foreign aid agency in the world, has raised concerns about America's global reputation and loss of 'soft power' through programs like the Peace Corps and USAID. Smedley's story highlights the human impact of the agency's dismantling on students, partners, and contractors who relied on its work.

The details

Smedley designed a USAID scholarship program to help students in Myanmar access educational opportunities after the 2021 military coup. The program placed students in Southeast Asian institutions at lower cost than sending them to the U.S. However, when the Trump administration issued stop-work orders in 2025, it left students and partners effectively abandoned, damaging trust in the U.S. government.

  • In late 2024 and early 2025, President Trump began criticizing USAID, including its $45 million diversity scholarship program in Myanmar.
  • USAID was dismantled in early 2025.
  • Smedley returned to Ashland in 2025 to take a one-year position at Southern Oregon University's School of Education.

The players

Bryce Smedley

A former faculty member at Southern Oregon University who designed the USAID diversity scholarship program in Myanmar and was forced to return to Ashland after the agency was dismantled.

Donald Trump

The former President who mocked the $45 million USAID diversity scholarship program in Myanmar before the agency was dismantled.

USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development, the largest foreign aid agency in the world until it was dismantled in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“We also blocked $45 million for diversity scholarships in Burma. That's a lot of money for diversity scholarships in Burma, you can imagine where that money went.”

— Donald Trump

“I came back to fight for what I love.”

— Bryce Smedley, Former USAID Foreign Service officer (Ashland.news)

What’s next

The Trump administration has recently begun hiring explicitly to finish closing down USAID, but former employees are not eligible for these roles despite their expertise.

The takeaway

The closure of USAID has raised concerns about America's global reputation and loss of 'soft power' through programs like the Peace Corps and USAID. Smedley's story highlights the human impact on students, partners, and contractors who relied on the agency's work, and the damage to trust in the U.S. government.