Trump Abolishes Michelle Obama’s Signature ‘Let Girls Learn’ Programme

The White House has discontinued Michelle Obama’s signature “Let Girls Learn” initiative, effective immediately.

Internal documents obtained by CNN direct Peace Corps employees not to use the “Let Girls Learn” name or branding. While they may continue some “Let Girls Learn” projects, the Peace Corps will no longer maintain a stand-alone “Let Girls Learn” program.

The initiative, which focused on educating girls around the world, was run primarily by the Peace Corps and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

A spokesperson from USAID told The Independent the agency is “committed to empowering women and girls around the world” and are “continuing to examine the best ways to do so.”

Ms Obama launched the $250 million initiative in 2015 with the aim of using public and private partnerships to fund “new efforts to expand educational opportunities for girls – including in areas of conflict and crisis.”

In the two years since its formation, the program has invested at least $1 billion in programming in 50 different countries. Much of that funding came in the form of donations from more than 100 companies and 11 other nations – some of which gave up to $600 million.

The Obama administration had attempted to fortify the program last year, announcing $5 million in private sector donations to “Let Girls Learn” projects. Tina Tchen, Ms Obama’s former chief of staff, told CNN the programme had secured several more year’s worth of funding.

Director of the Peace Corps & First Lady with PCVs

“We were hopeful that given that, it could continue,” Ms Tchen said. “But obviously elections have consequences, and nobody knows that better than we.”

Announcing the discontinuation of the programme, Peace Corps acting director Sheila Crowley said her agency was “proud” of what the program accomplished.

‘Let Girls Learn’ provided a platform to showcase Peace Corps’ strength in community development, shining a bright light on the work of our Volunteers all over the world,” Crowley wrote in her email to employees.

The Peace Corps and USAID did not respond to requests for additional comment.

Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, has largely taken on the role of advising the president on women’s empowerment. The first daughter, however, seems more focused on empowering women in business. She hosted a dinner party for CEOs to discuss women in the workforce in February, and orchestrated the creation of a joint US-Canada Council for the Advancement of Women Business Leaders-Female Entrepreneurs.

On a trip to Germany this month, Ms Trump announced the creation of a fund to benefit female entrepreneurs around the world.

Critics expressed their dissatisfaction with the discontinuation of “Let Girls Learn” using Ms Trump’s signature hashtag.

“It’s harder to have #WomenWhoWork if you don’t #LetGirlsLearn,” former Organising for America communications director Jesse Lehrich tweeted.