Mon Mar 10 13:25:00 UTC 2025: ## Massive Cuts to US Foreign Aid Announced: 83% of USAID Programs Cancelled
**Washington D.C.** – The United States has cancelled 83% of its programs run by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday. This drastic reduction, affecting 5,200 contracts and tens of billions of dollars in spending, is a direct result of President Trump’s January executive order freezing foreign aid to allow for a review of overseas spending.
Rubio, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated that the cancelled programs did not serve, and in some cases harmed, core US national interests. The State Department had previously announced plans to cut 92% of USAID’s program funding, but the final figure settled at 83%. USAID, which distributes humanitarian aid to approximately 120 countries, focuses on health and emergency programs.
The decision has drawn praise from proponents of the administration’s “America First” agenda, who view foreign aid as wasteful and not aligned with US interests. Rubio notably thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, for its assistance in streamlining government spending.
However, aid groups have expressed grave concerns, arguing that much of the assistance bolsters US interests by promoting global stability and health. They warn that these massive cuts will severely endanger vulnerable populations worldwide. The long-term consequences of this sweeping reduction in foreign aid remain to be seen.
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