The Trump administration has eliminated 83% of USAID programs, citing wasteful spending and their failure to serve US national interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, stating that 5,200 contracts had been canceled. The remaining 1,000 to be directly overseen by the State Department—a move critics argue is illegal without congressional approval. The cuts follow Trump’s executive order suspending all foreign aid, with oversight from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The decision has caused global alarm, particularly in regions reliant on USAID for famine prevention and disaster relief. Experts say this shift signals a major departure from traditional US foreign policy, aligning with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Source: DW
