In a stunning policy U-turn, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Monday that the Trump administration cut over 80 percent of all programs in the US Agency for International Development (USAID) after six weeks of reviewing them.
Rubio made the announcement on X, stating, “Following a six-week review, we are formally terminating 83% of the programs at USAID. The 5,200 contracts now ended cost tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not benefit, and in some instances actually harmed, the central national interests of the United States.”
He also explained that about 1,000 of the remaining 18% of programs will be managed better now under the State Department following consultations with Congress.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has put foreign aid on hold for 90 days to decide whether the programs align with his “America First” foreign policy. The order, followed by subsequent stop-work orders, disrupted USAID’s global operations, jeopardizing the provision of essential food and medical aid and slowing down humanitarian relief efforts worldwide.
Even though the administration indicated that it approved waivers for life-saving aid, humanitarian personnel stated that funding remained largely frozen. The upheaval left thousands of workers having been terminated or placed on leave, many of whom were unlikely to return.
Rubio thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, for their efforts on what he called an “overdue and historic reform.” He further stated, “Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to make this a reality.”
Musk later responded, calling the reforms “tough, but necessary,” and again stating that critical aspects of USAID should have always been under the authority of the State Department.
Reported tensions seemed to boil over in a recent Cabinet meeting, where Musk criticized Rubio for not making deeper staff cuts at the State Department. Trump reaffirmed that it’s his Cabinet members, and not Musk, who have final authority over staff and policy in their respective departments.
Following the announcement, there was a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, with Trump, Musk, and Rubio in attendance, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
