Wed Feb 05 05:46:49 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Dismantles USAID, Triggering Global Outcry

**Washington, D.C. – February 5, 2025** – The Trump administration announced a near-complete shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), effectively ending six decades of American foreign aid efforts. Thousands of USAID workers worldwide received notices of termination or recall, with a deadline of Friday midnight to return home, unless deemed essential.

The move, described by Elon Musk as “feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” follows a pattern of budget cuts and staff reductions under the current administration. The administration, aided by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, considers much of USAID’s overseas spending wasteful. This latest action halts billions of dollars in projects across 120 countries, impacting initiatives ranging from Ukrainian security assistance to clean water projects and education programs in Afghanistan.

The shutdown has already resulted in stalled aid deliveries, including food and medicine sitting in ports. Health programs credited with eradicating polio and smallpox, and a major HIV/AIDS program, have been suspended. Concerns have been raised about the halting of rapid response teams for contagious diseases, such as the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

Democratic lawmakers are fiercely criticizing the action, arguing that USAID is enshrined in legislation as an independent agency and cannot be dissolved without congressional approval. They highlight the agency’s role in countering the influence of rivals like Russia and China, and in solidifying international alliances. The American Foreign Service Association has announced plans for legal action.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while on a Central American tour, defended the administration’s position, stating that foreign aid must advance U.S. national interests. However, the abrupt nature of the shutdown and the resulting logistical chaos – including the costs associated with the hasty relocation of thousands of employees and their families – has drawn heavy criticism. Concerns have also been raised about the plight of locally employed staff who lack the same protections as their American counterparts. The website of USAID was briefly taken offline during this process. The agency’s future remains highly uncertain.

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