Trump Admin. Axes 90% of Foreign Aid: Billions Slashed, Global Outrage Ensues!

2025-02-27 07:43:04.454

The Trump administration announced the elimination of more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid contracts, totaling $60 billion in U.S. assistance worldwide. This drastic cut leaves few USAID projects remaining, intensifying ongoing court battles. The administration detailed its plans in an internal memo and court filings, revealing the scale of its retreat from decades of U.S. foreign aid policy. The memo cited "clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift" and aimed to "use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests." President Trump and Elon Musk, who headed the Department of Government Efficiency, had previously criticized USAID projects as advancing a liberal agenda and wasteful. A 90-day review of foreign assistance programs led to a funding freeze, halting thousands of programs and resulting in staff layoffs. Successful programs combating Ebola and HIV/AIDS were also affected. Nonprofits and contractors described rapid contract terminations without meaningful review, with a USAID official emailing staff about "MANY more terminations coming." Lawmakers criticized the administration's actions as a maneuver to circumvent court orders temporarily lifting the funding freeze. A coalition of businesses, NGOs, and former officials expressed shock, highlighting concerns about impacts on counterterrorism, global health, and food security. The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed the terminations. Specifically, 5,800 of 6,200 multiyear USAID contract awards were eliminated ($54 billion), and 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants were cut ($4.4 billion). While the administration began processing some back payments, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the unfreezing of billions of dollars in aid.