The United States has scrapped 83% of programs under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) following a six-week review, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.

“The 5,200 terminated contracts wasted tens of billions of dollars, often failing to serve—sometimes even harming—America’s core interests,” Rubio stated on X.

He did not specify which programs would continue but said the remaining 1,000 initiatives would be managed more efficiently under the State Department, in coordination with Congress.

Rubio also credited the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory body led by Elon Musk, for driving what he called a long-overdue reform. 

Responding hours later, Musk wrote: “Tough, but necessary. The essential parts of USAID should always have been under the State Department.”

With President Donald Trump’s backing, Musk has spearheaded sweeping government downsizing, arguing it combats waste and fraud.

Following Trump’s return to office on January 20, he imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid, pending a review to ensure alignment with his “America First” policy. This move disrupted USAID operations worldwide, stalling food and medical aid deliveries and derailing global relief efforts.

USAID, once employing over 10,000 people, has seen drastic cuts—1,600 layoffs in February and 4,200 staff placed on leave. Sources indicate most will not return, with plans to reduce the agency to fewer than 300 employees.

The cuts have sparked backlash, with hundreds of U.S. diplomats signing a letter warning that terminating aid contracts jeopardizes alliances and strengthens adversaries. 

Senator Bernie Sanders condemned the move, warning it could cause “millions of preventable deaths.”

Before the freeze, the U.S. was the world’s largest foreign aid provider, contributing $72 billion in 2023—42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the U.N.

Source: Al Jazeera 

BDST: 0938 HRS, MAR 11, 2025
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