The future of US foreign aid is facing uncertainty as the Trump administration has terminated over 90% of the US Agency for International Development (USAID)'s foreign assistance awards. This move follows the administration's efforts to dismantle USAID, leading to layoffs of approximately 2,000 employees and putting the majority of remaining staff on leave. The agency's global aid efforts had already stalled due to a freeze on existing and future foreign assistance, causing widespread confusion and impacting humanitarian organizations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's memo in January directed a suspension of foreign aid programs for 90 days, resulting in the termination of around 5,800 USAID awards and 4,100 State Department awards. USAID, which manages 61% of the more than $71 billion in US foreign aid spent in 2023, plays a crucial role in delivering aid worldwide.
