Trump Eyes Shake-Up at USAID: What to Know
1. Agency’s website goes dark, marking its uncertain future as President Donald Trump seems poised to make sweeping changes to the agency.
Trump Plans Major Overhaul of USAID Amid Foreign Aid Freeze
President Donald Trump is preparing a significant restructuring of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the government agency responsible for distributing foreign aid.
Long critical of U.S. intervention in global affairs, Trump appears poised to overhaul an agency many conservatives view as emblematic of excessive globalism. Reports suggest USAID may be merged into the State Department, though the administration has remained tight-lipped on specifics.
Signs of Change
Recent developments indicate a major shake-up is underway:
- Mass Layoffs: Hundreds of USAID employees and contractors, particularly in the Global Health and Humanitarian Assistance bureaus, have been dismissed.
- Website Shutdown: The official USAID website and social media accounts have gone offline.
- Foreign Aid Freeze: Trump signed an executive order pausing all U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio granting exceptions only for humanitarian relief.
“USAID has been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out,” Trump wrote on Feb. 2, adding that a final decision on the agency’s future was forthcoming.
The Role of USAID
Established in 1961, USAID oversees U.S. foreign aid, including disaster relief, global health programs, and economic development. In 2023, the agency distributed $36.8 billion in aid, roughly half of all U.S. foreign assistance. Critics argue that USAID lacks transparency and accountability, while supporters contend it provides vital humanitarian relief and serves U.S. geopolitical interests.
Push for a Merger
Republican lawmakers and conservative groups have long advocated merging USAID with the State Department. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 includes a proposal for such a move.
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast (R-Fla.) hinted at the transition, stating, “USAID is likely to be rolled more closely under Secretary Rubio.” However, he noted that the administration had not finalized its approach.
Political and Legal Challenges
Democrats are pushing back, arguing that dissolving USAID via executive order would be illegal. While President John F. Kennedy initially created the agency by executive order in 1961, subsequent congressional action has codified its existence.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned the potential move, warning that it would undermine national security and U.S. influence abroad.
The debate over USAID’s future is set to intensify as Trump’s administration continues its foreign aid review, with both its funding and structure hanging in the balance.
