Thu Feb 27 04:57:13 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Slashes Overseas Aid by $54 Billion
**Washington D.C.** – The Trump administration has implemented dramatic cuts to US overseas development and aid programs, slashing a staggering $54 billion from multiyear contracts, according to a State Department announcement. This represents a 92% reduction.
Following President Trump’s January executive order freezing all foreign aid for a 90-day review, the administration targeted multiyear contracts administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The review, aimed at aligning aid spending with the “America First” agenda, resulted in the elimination of nearly 5,800 awards totaling $54 billion.
A separate review of over 9,100 grants, worth more than $15.9 billion, led to the cancellation of approximately 4,100 grants valued at nearly $4.4 billion (a 28% reduction).
The State Department emphasized that essential programs were spared, including food assistance, crucial medical treatments for diseases like HIV and malaria, and support for nations such as Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Lebanon. The administration claims the cuts will allow for greater efficiency and a more focused approach to foreign aid aligned with its priorities. However, critics are likely to raise concerns about the significant impact of these reductions on global health and development initiatives.
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