Big Changes at USAID: What Happened to Foreign Aid?

The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) just went through a major shake-up. In a quick six weeks, the Trump administration cut 83% of its programs. This means 5, 200 out of 6, 200 programs are now gone. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this big change on social media. He thanked DOGE and the hardworking staff for making this happen. The administration says these programs weren't helping U. S. interests. This move has left many people upset, especially those who rely on the aid. The Trump administration says they did this to save money and stop waste. They think foreign aid should only help U. S. interests. Democrats and others say this is illegal. They think Congress should have a say in this. The administration hasn't said which programs they kept or why. They just sent out termination notices to many aid groups. This has caused a lot of confusion and frustration. The shutdown has affected many people. Some life-saving programs, like emergency food for starving children and clean water for war refugees, got the termination notices. This has left many people without the help they need. The shutdown has also left many USAID staff and contractors without jobs. Some are still waiting for their pay and travel expenses. The shutdown has also caused legal problems. There are lawsuits saying the administration owes billions of dollars to aid groups and businesses. The shutdown has also left many staff and contractors overseas, waiting for help to get home. The administration hasn't said why they changed their numbers from 90% to 83%. The shutdown has also changed decades of U. S. policy. Before this, the U. S. believed that helping other countries helped its own security. Now, the administration wants to focus on a narrower view of U. S. interests. This has left many people wondering what this means for the future of U. S. foreign aid.