US foreign aid is under scrutiny from the Trump administration
Image: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is facing an uncertain future, after recently becoming a target for reformation by the Trump administration.
Some quick background: USAID is the arm of the federal government that handles international humanitarian affairs, providing financial aid to nations suffering from conflict, poverty, disease, or other crises.
- The agency employs 10,000+ people, and distributes a combined $40+ billion/year to humanitarian causes around the world, including aid groups in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria.
That brings us to recent events: On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was appointed acting administrator of USAID, and told lawmakers that he intends to work with Congress to reorganize it and eliminate large portions.
It’s currently unclear how Rubio’s promise to overhaul USAID – and potentially merge much of it into the State Department – will be reconciled with DOGE leader Elon Musk’s stated desire to close the agency, which he says is shared by President Trump.
The arguments: Trump is a long-term critic of the US government’s overseas spending, saying it fails to bring value to American taxpayers and noting that foreign aid is often misused by corrupt governments. His administration – including Elon Musk – has singled out USAID in particular, describing senior officials there as "radical left lunatics" and criticizing the agency for funding “anti-American” programs worldwide.
On the flip side, many Democrats have resisted efforts to overhaul USAID, calling the agency a key tool in assisting US interests abroad by supporting strategically important nations.
- Democratic lawmakers staged a protest outside USAID headquarters on Monday, with participants calling the proposed changes an "illegal, unconstitutional" move.
- Two Democratic senators are also pledging to put a “blanket hold” on Trump’s current State Department nominees until his administration ends its planned USAID overhaul.
Looking ahead…USAID is currently undergoing an active review that will likely lead to major organizational changes, according to Rubio.
📊 Flash poll: How do you feel about the Trump administration’s recent moves to overhaul USAID?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Trump’s efforts to dismantle USAID are a threat to American safety, and that while it is not a perfect agency, the president’s efforts more closely resemble total destruction.
- Others contend that Elon Musk’s shutdown of USAID overnight is not only flat-out illegal – since it is a government entity created by Congress, which DOGE is not – but a direct betrayal of the good the agency has managed to do over the years.
- “Trump’s attack on USAID is an assault on Americans’ safety.” –Chris Coons, Washington Post
- “Musk’s USAID shutdown is illegal: And a bad policy to wipe out foreign aid, but Trump has bullied Congress into submission.” –New York Daily News Editorial Board
- “The Worst Person Possible Just Took Over USAID.”–Marin Scotten, New Republic
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that efforts to reconstruct USAID are necessary because, since its inception during the Cold War, the agency has become a mechanism for Democratic policy initiatives and has deviated from its previously intended goals.
- Others contend that the agency has become little more than a means for politicians to exploit its funding for personal gain, and that USAID is in desperate need of some accountability if it’s to become anything better.
- “Bringing USAID under democratic control.” –Washington Examiner Editorial Board
- “USAID is a massive pool of waste and corruption and should be shut.” –Cheryl K. Chumley, Washington Times
- “State Department waivers reveal big bucks meant for DEI nonsense— what else is hiding among fed handouts?” –New York Post Editorial Board
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