WASHINGTON — In a significant reshuffle of foreign assistance strategy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the Trump administration concluded a comprehensive overhaul, drastically reducing the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Over a six-week period, the historic shift saw roughly 5,200 of the 6,200 USAID programs cut, with remaining efforts transitioning under the State Department’s oversight. Rubio shared this development in a post on social media, underscoring it as a significant reform in the nation’s foreign aid agenda.
President Donald Trump had instructed a halt on foreign assistance spending and called for a thorough evaluation of U.S. aid initiatives globally through an executive order issued on January 20. Trump argued that much U.S. foreign aid was excessive and did not align with conservative priorities. Rubio’s recent announcement affirms the conclusion of this review, noting that programs not aligned with U.S. interests have been eliminated. Against a backdrop of dissent from Democratic lawmakers, who argue the cuts are unlawful without Congress’s consent, Rubio has promised that remaining aid programs will operate more efficiently under new administration.
Critics noted the lack of transparency concerning which programs were spared and the near-immediate termination notifications sent to aid groups and USAID partners. Despite assurances by Rubio and others to preserve crucial initiatives, some life-saving efforts, such as nutritional aid and water supply for war-displaced populations, reportedly received cancellation orders. This abrupt cessation of programs has prompted legal challenges questioning the adequacy of the review process.
The administration’s actions have triggered a transformation in U.S. foreign policy, contradicting longstanding perceptions that foreign development investments strengthen national security by fostering stability and alliances. The shutdown strategy, executed with assistance from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, involved pulling USAID personnel back home, ceasing payments, and halting contracts without gradation. Consequently, numerous aid and development initiatives, from epidemic responses to famine relief, abruptly ended, forcing layoffs of thousands of workers stationed globally.
Amidst multiple lawsuits challenging the cuts, allegations of breached contracts totaling billions of dollars have surfaced as organizations grapple with their financial setbacks. The abruptness of this transition has stranded USAID staff and contractors overseas, many waiting for owed wages and reimbursement of travel expenses. Thus, the consequences of the USAID dismantling extend beyond policy to impacts on the ground affecting providers and recipients of essential services alike.
