US President Donald Trump’s administration has formalized plans to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), a move that has been widely criticized.
According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Department of State and USAID have notified Congress of their intention to reorganize and realign certain USAID functions to the Department by July 1, 2025.¹
The planned closure of USAID, which managed an annual budget of nearly $43 billion and accounted for over 40% of the world’s humanitarian aid, has sparked outrage.
Senate Democrats have denounced the move, calling it “illegal, dangerous, and inefficient.”
They argue that the reorganization will disrupt the State Department’s core mission and make it impossible to implement retained USAID programs.
The Trump administration has been critical of USAID, claiming it strayed from its original mission and achieved too little at too great a cost.
However, critics argue that the agency plays a vital role in providing humanitarian aid and promoting global development.
As part of the planned closure, USAID staff were informed that all jobs not required by law would be eliminated.
The State Department plans to take over some of USAID’s functions, including humanitarian assistance, food security, and global health programs.
