WASHINGTON — A new report from a watchdog organization indicates that USAID has nearly lost its capability to monitor $8.2 billion of unallocated foreign aid due to a funding freeze enacted during Trump’s administration, alongside significant reductions in staffing.

The findings raise concerns about the transparency and accountability of billions of dollars in aid that remains untapped. The freeze implemented by former President Trump had a profound impact on the agency’s ability to manage and track these funds effectively.

The combination of these funding restrictions and personnel cuts has severely hindered USAID’s operational capacity. As a result, there are growing fears about the implications this has for the intended recipients of the aid and the effectiveness of USAID’s mission to provide assistance to those in need across the globe.

This situation highlights the challenges faced by USAID in ensuring that resources are appropriately allocated and that there is oversight for the funds meant for international support. The organization is under pressure to restore functionality and improve its mechanisms for tracking aid disbursements and outcomes.

As discussions about foreign aid and its management continue, the report serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding international assistance and the importance of maintaining systems that ensure accountability.

This critical loss in tracking capabilities could have long-lasting effects not just for USAID, but for the broader landscape of global aid funding and response efforts.