US Plans to Ax 83% of USAID Programs: International Edition

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the country would be terminating 83 percent of initiatives at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing a halt on all U.S. foreign assistance. This move allows his administration to review international expenditures, aiming to eliminate funding for programs that do not align with his "America First" policy.

"After completing a 6-week review, we have decided to cancel 83% of the programs at USAID," stated Rubio on the social media platform X.

"The 5,200 contracts that have been canceled wasted tens of billions of dollars in methods that failed to support, and in certain instances may have even undermined, the fundamental national interests of the United States," he stated.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) delivers American humanitarian assistance across the globe, running health and emergency programs in approximately 120 nations.

The State Department, responsible for overseeing USAID, declared on February 26 its plan to reduce the agency's program funding by 92 percent, targeting approximately 5,800 grants for elimination.

On Monday, Rubio specifically expressed gratitude to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), currently under the leadership of billionaire Elon Musk, as they work towards reducing expenses and eliminating positions within various governmental divisions.

Trump and his allies have argued that foreign assistance is wasteful and does not serve US interests.

However, aid organizations contend that much of this support advances American interests by fostering stability and wellness abroad, and they caution that reducing funding could endanger the lives of those who are most at risk.

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