But the Trump administration’s assault on USAID does tell us something broader about Republicans’ view on government spending — specifically, what they might consider to be wasteful spending: programs that help the poor. And the way they have justified the dismantling of USAID — by categorizing it as rife with fraud and mismanagement — may give us a glimpse into how they will approach domestic welfare programs.

Effectively shutting down USAID will have major consequences for millions of people abroad, and it should also serve as a warning for people who care about antipoverty programs here at home. When programs like food stamps or Medicaid are on the chopping block, chances are Republicans are going to turn to the same argument: These programs are wasteful, so why should we fund them?