The Trump administration is considering merging USAID into the State Department, aligning foreign aid spending with its “America First” policy. Elon Musk, leading Trump’s federal cost-cutting drive, called USAID a “criminal organization”, as critics warn of global humanitarian risks.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the country’s main foreign aid body, may be merged into the State Department under a major restructuring plan by President Donald Trump. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending and reshape U.S. foreign policy.
Trump has tasked Elon Musk, the billionaire overseeing the administration’s government efficiency drive, to lead the project. On Sunday, Trump criticized USAID, calling it “run by radical lunatics,” while Musk claimed, without evidence, that the agency was “a criminal organization.”
Founded in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy, USAID administers 60% of U.S. foreign assistance, disbursing $43.79 billion in 2023. It operates in about 130 countries, focusing on poverty reduction, humanitarian aid, and economic development.
Top recipients of USAID assistance in 2023 included Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria. The agency is funded by Congress, with budget requests submitted by the administration.
In 2023, the U.S. allocated $72 billion in foreign aid, accounting for 42% of all global humanitarian aid. Historically, U.S. aid spending was around 0.33% of GDP, far below Cold War-era levels, where it reached 3% during the Marshall Plan.
Despite leading in total dollar contributions, the U.S. ranks among the lowest in foreign aid as a percentage of national income, contributing just 0.24% in 2023—lagging behind Norway (1.09%), and multiple European nations.
Foreign aid has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan backing, though Republicans have often pushed for reductions. Trump previously attempted to cut foreign aid by one-third, but those efforts were blocked by Congress.
In June 2024, 80% of the Republican-led House of Representatives rejected a proposal to eliminate foreign aid from the 2025 budget, signaling continued support despite Trump's opposition.
Trump’s January 20 executive order paused most foreign aid for 90 days, claiming the U.S. aid system is “not aligned with American interests.” His administration has warned USAID workers against resisting the restructuring, threatening disciplinary action for noncompliance.
The move has raised alarm among humanitarian organizations, the United Nations, and foreign governments, as USAID plays a critical role in food security, health programs, and crisis response.
A source familiar with USAID operations warned that folding the agency into the State Department would limit humanitarian assistance, especially in countries without diplomatic ties to the U.S., such as Iran and North Korea.
As Trump pushes forward with restructuring, concerns grow over the future of U.S. humanitarian influence and global development efforts.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
The United States is set to host an energy summit in Alaska in early June, where President Donald Trump’s administration hopes Japan and South Korea will commit to the $44 billion Alaska LNG project, a major energy initiative aimed at expanding U.S. gas exports to Asia.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
Israel warned on Thursday it will unleash an even wider offensive in Gaza unless Hamas frees its remaining hostages, a threat issued as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 55 people across the enclave, according to local medics.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
The United States is set to host an energy summit in Alaska in early June, where President Donald Trump’s administration hopes Japan and South Korea will commit to the $44 billion Alaska LNG project, a major energy initiative aimed at expanding U.S. gas exports to Asia.
Israel warned on Thursday it will unleash an even wider offensive in Gaza unless Hamas frees its remaining hostages, a threat issued as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 55 people across the enclave, according to local medics.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment