WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday the conclusion of a significant restructuring within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which resulted in the elimination of over 5,200 programs. This represents a historic shift in U.S. foreign aid efforts, with only 18% of the original initiatives remaining to be managed under the State Department.
Rubio shared this pivotal update through social media, highlighting the drastic reduction in USAID programs, a move that has sparked considerable debate regarding foreign assistance policies.
In his statement, Rubio expressed gratitude towards the staff involved in this reform, which he described as long overdue. He indicated that the remaining programs would be more efficiently administered, aiming to align them with core U.S. national interests.
This restructuring follows an executive order from President Donald Trump that prompted a freeze on foreign assistance funding and a comprehensive review of the billions allocated for U.S. aid. The underlying rationale was to eliminate perceived wastefulness and ideological bias within the assistance framework.
Critics, including several Democratic lawmakers, argue that this revocation of congressionally-funded programs is illegal and necessitates congressional approval. The State Department previously indicated a plan to discontinue more than 90% of USAID programs, although Rubio’s lighter figure remains unexplained.
The action disrupts decades of policy that posited U.S. aid as a tool for national security, aiming to stabilize regions and foster goodwill. The swift execution of these cuts involved significant staffing changes, including forced leaves and firings, leading to widespread halts in various international aid efforts.
As a result of these developments, numerous contractors and staff dedicated to critical initiatives, such as epidemic control and economic development, ceased operations. This shutdown has had a profound impact, with many workers and organizations facing layoffs and disruption in service delivery across the globe.
Current legal actions from nonprofits and businesses associated with USAID allege that the abrupt termination of contracts unlawfully eliminated programs Rubio indicated were intended to be preserved, resulting in extensive financial loss.
Many USAID staff and contractors remain stranded overseas, awaiting overdue reimbursements and travel arrangements to return home, underscoring the ongoing repercussions of this sweeping policy change.
