WASHINGTON — On Saturday, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s website unexpectedly went offline amid ongoing furloughs, layoffs, and program halts stemming from President Trump’s suspension of U.S.-funded foreign aid and development initiatives globally.
Democratic lawmakers have increasingly voiced their concerns that the Trump administration may attempt to dismantle USAID as an independent entity, potentially merging it with the State Department. They argue that the president lacks the authority to eliminate a congressionally established agency, asserting that USAID’s functions are critical to the nation’s security.
In contrast, Trump and Republican lawmakers contend that many foreign aid programs are inefficient, particularly highlighting those they believe further liberal social agendas.
Concerns about harsher measures from the administration against USAID have arisen following two weeks of an administration-imposed freeze on billions of dollars allocated for humanitarian, development, and security assistance.
The U.S. remains the largest global donor of humanitarian aid, investing less than one percent of its national budget in foreign assistance, a smaller proportion than some other nations.
Officials from the administration remained silent when questioned about fears from lawmakers and others regarding the possible termination of USAID’s independent status.
Initially established by President John F. Kennedy during the Cold War to counteract Soviet influence, USAID is now a key player in U.S. efforts to address the expanding influence of China, which has initiated its own successful “Belt and Road” foreign aid strategy.
USAID was created following the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961, which Kennedy signed into law along with an executive order designating the agency as independent.
This past weekend, USAID employees engaged in online discussions to keep tabs on their agency’s status, sharing updates regarding the visibility of the agency’s signs and emblem at its Washington headquarters. As of late Saturday afternoon, the signs were still prominently displayed.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy took to X to assert that presidents do not have the authority to dissolve federally funded agencies sanctioned by Congress through executive action. He warned that Trump’s actions may escalate into a “constitutional crisis,” accusing the president of seeking to misappropriate taxpayer funds to enrich his circle of wealthy benefactors. “That’s what a despot does,” Murphy stated.
Additionally, billionaire Elon Musk, serving as an advisor to Trump on government streamlining efforts, has endorsed calls made on his X account for the dissolution of USAID. He referenced the situation with a tweet stating, “Live by executive order, die by executive order.”
On his first day in office on January 20, Trump initiated an extraordinary 90-day freeze on foreign assistance. The order, interpreted more strictly than previous guidance, resulted in the shutdown of thousands of worldwide programs, leading to layoffs and furloughs of numerous personnel.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has since stepped in to ensure the continuation of strictly essential life-saving programs during the freeze. Aid organizations are expressing that the ambiguity surrounding which programs can remain operational is hampering their efforts.
In public remarks on the matter, Rubio stated that a review of USAID’s programs is underway to eliminate any that do not align with U.S. national interests, but he did not mention the potential disbandment of the agency itself.
According to Rubio, the suspension of U.S. programs during this review has resulted in “greater cooperation” from countries receiving humanitarian, development, and security support.
The debate over the agency has long been a battleground between Republicans and Democrats, who argue about whether working to stabilize partner nations through aid ultimately benefits the U.S. or serves as a misuse of taxpayer resources. Republicans usually favor increased oversight of USAID by the State Department, while Democrats champion the agency’s autonomy and authority.
This contention was notably evident during Trump’s first term when he attempted to slash funding for foreign operations by one-third. When Congress rebuffed this effort, his administration employed freezes and other methods to hinder funds already allocated by Congress for foreign initiatives. The General Accounting Office later determined that this action breached the Impoundment Control Act.
