Trump Admin. Axes $60 Billion in Foreign Aid: A Shocking Revelation!

2025-02-27 08:04:09.835

The Trump administration announced the elimination of more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid contracts, amounting to $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance cuts worldwide. This significantly reduces U.S. development and humanitarian aid abroad, leaving few USAID projects for advocates to fight to save in ongoing court battles. The administration detailed these cuts in an internal memo and court filings, revealing the scale of its retreat from decades of U.S. policy that foreign aid bolsters U.S. interests. The memo cited "clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift" as justification, aiming to "use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests." President Trump and Elon Musk, advocating for a smaller federal government, have been key drivers of these cuts, viewing USAID projects as advancing a liberal agenda. A 90-day review of foreign assistance programs led to a funding freeze, halting thousands of programs and impacting USAID staff through forced leave and firings. Successful programs combating Ebola, HIV/AIDS, saving over 20 million lives in Africa, have been affected. Nonprofits owed billions in contract payments described the contract terminations as rapid and without meaningful review. A USAID official email mentioned "MANY more terminations coming." Senator Chris Murphy criticized the administration's actions as attempting to circumvent Congress and courts. The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition expressed concern about the impact on counterterror, global health, food security, and competition. The State Department said Secretary Marco Rubio reviewed the terminations. Specifically, 5,800 of 6,200 multiyear USAID contract awards ($54 billion) and 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants ($4.4 billion) were eliminated. The administration initially delayed payments, but began processing millions of dollars in back payments after a court order. However, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the order to unfreeze billions of dollars in aid.