Mon Mar 10 16:53:51 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Axes 83% of USAID Programs in Sweeping Cuts

**Washington D.C.** – The Trump administration has dramatically slashed the US Agency for International Development (USAID), canceling 83% of its programs following a six-week review, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced today. This move, part of a broader effort to reduce government spending, has eliminated 5,200 contracts representing tens of billions of dollars.

Rubio, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated that these cancelled programs did not align with US national interests, although he did not specify which programs were affected. The remaining approximately 1,000 programs will be overseen by the State Department in consultation with Congress.

The administration credited the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), advised by Elon Musk, for its role in the restructuring. Musk, in response, called the cuts “tough, but necessary.”

The cuts have been met with widespread criticism. A letter signed by hundreds of American diplomats condemned the freeze and termination of foreign aid contracts, citing jeopardized partnerships and increased influence for adversaries. Senator Bernie Sanders warned of “millions of preventable deaths” as a result.

The drastic reduction follows a 90-day freeze on foreign aid imposed by President Trump upon returning to office. This freeze, coupled with subsequent layoffs and leave orders, has already resulted in the loss of thousands of USAID jobs, leaving the agency a shadow of its former self. Before the cuts, USAID was the primary mechanism for distributing the US’s substantial foreign aid, which accounted for 42% of all UN-tracked humanitarian aid in 2024. The administration’s actions have sparked concerns about the impact on global humanitarian relief efforts. The cuts, and the administration’s stated goal of reducing the agency’s staff to under 300, represent a significant shift in US foreign policy and have drawn strong condemnation from both within and outside the government.

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