USAID Website Goes Dark as Trump Blackout Foreign Aid Programs \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The USAID website went offline Saturday as Trump’s administration continues a sweeping freeze on U.S. foreign aid. Congressional Democrats accuse Trump of trying to dismantle USAID and merge it with the State Department. The freeze has already shut down thousands of aid programs and triggered furloughs and layoffs. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends the review as a way to cut wasteful spending, concerns grow over global humanitarian efforts.
USAID Foreign Aid Freeze: Quick Looks
- USAID Website Offline: The U.S. Agency for International Development’s website went dark Saturday amid Trump’s 90-day foreign aid freeze.
- Thousands Impacted: The freeze has led to mass program shutdowns, furloughs, and layoffs in global humanitarian efforts.
- Political Battle: Democrats accuse Trump of trying to dismantle USAID and illegally merge it into the State Department.
- Rubio’s Response: Secretary of State Marco Rubio says USAID’s programs are under review, but has not confirmed plans to eliminate the agency.
- Musk and GOP Support Cuts: Elon Musk and Trump allies push for downsizing USAID, calling foreign aid wasteful and ineffective.
- Legal Fight Ahead: Democrats vow to challenge any executive order to dissolve USAID, calling it a constitutional crisis.
Deep Look
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) website mysteriously went offline Saturday, further intensifying the political standoff between the Trump administration and Congressional Democrats over the president’s sweeping freeze on foreign aid.
The disappearance of USAID’s online presence comes two weeks into Trump’s controversial 90-day suspension of billions of dollars in U.S.-funded humanitarian, development, and security assistance. The freeze, implemented on Trump’s first day back in office, January 20, has already led to thousands of program shutdowns, mass furloughs, and layoffs among aid workers worldwide.
The move has deepened concerns that Trump may be attempting to dismantle USAID altogether, a claim that administration officials have not denied. Congressional Democrats argue that Trump lacks the legal authority to eliminate USAID as an independent agency, and they have warned of a constitutional crisis if he moves forward with such plans.
Trump’s Push to Restructure Foreign Aid
Since taking office, Trump has been critical of U.S. foreign aid spending, calling many programs wasteful and suggesting that USAID should be absorbed into the State Department. He has long argued that American taxpayer money should be spent domestically rather than funding international projects.
While Republicans largely support Trump’s efforts to overhaul foreign aid, Democrats see the freeze as an attack on a vital agency that plays a key role in national security and global diplomacy.
“That’s what a despot—who wants to steal the taxpayers’ money to enrich his billionaire cabal—does,” said Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy in a post on X.
Murphy and other Democrats argue that Trump’s executive order is unconstitutional, as USAID was created by an act of Congress in 1961 and cannot be dismantled or merged with the State Department without legislative approval.
Trump’s supporters, however, say the agency has been used to advance liberal social agendas and that a reevaluation of its programs is necessary.
Confusion, Job Losses, and a Shaky Global Aid Network
USAID employees have been left in the dark about the agency’s future. Some spent Friday and Saturday monitoring headquarters in Washington, D.C., checking whether agency signs and flags were still up.
With USAID’s website offline, humanitarian organizations that rely on the agency’s funding and coordination have struggled to access essential information.
The shutdown has led to furloughs, layoffs, and widespread uncertainty among global aid groups, which depend on U.S. funding for everything from food security to disaster relief efforts.
“We don’t know which programs will be restarted or if they ever will be,” said an anonymous USAID staffer. “The lack of communication has been devastating.”
Rubio’s Role and the State Department’s Response
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been overseeing the review of USAID programs, has not confirmed whether the agency will be eliminated.
In his first public comments on the matter Thursday, Rubio stated that the Trump administration was assessing all foreign aid programs to eliminate wasteful spending and prioritize initiatives in the U.S. national interest.
“We are getting a lot more cooperation” from recipient nations during the funding freeze, Rubio claimed.
He also clarified that some strictly life-saving humanitarian aid programs would continue, though aid groups argue that confusion over the policy has led to unnecessary disruptions.
While Rubio has sought to reassure allies that humanitarian assistance will not be abandoned, his comments have done little to calm fears about USAID’s future as an independent agency.
Elon Musk and Trump’s Billionaire Backers Support USAID Overhaul
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been advising Trump on downsizing the federal government, has endorsed calls to dismantle USAID.
Musk reacted to Murphy’s comments on X, posting:
“Live by executive order, die by executive order.”
Musk has supported Trump’s broader push to eliminate federal agencies and cut international spending, aligning with Republican arguments that U.S. foreign aid should be reduced.
The History of USAID and Why It Matters
USAID was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy as part of Cold War efforts to counter Soviet influence. The agency has since become a central pillar of U.S. foreign policy, providing aid to stabilize regions, prevent conflicts, and promote economic development.
USAID’s role has expanded in recent decades, particularly as the U.S. has sought to compete with China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, which has seen Beijing invest billions in global infrastructure projects.
The U.S. remains the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid, although foreign aid accounts for less than 1% of the federal budget.
Despite its relatively small share of government spending, USAID’s programs have long been a target for conservative lawmakers, who argue that the agency is inefficient and politically biased.
Legal and Political Battles Loom Over USAID’s Fate
The battle over USAID is likely to intensify in the coming weeks, with several key questions still unanswered:
- Will Trump attempt to dissolve USAID?
- Can Congress block any executive order attempting to merge it with the State Department?
- Will Rubio push to restructure the agency rather than eliminate it entirely?
- How will aid organizations cope with continued uncertainty?
With Trump’s foreign aid freeze firmly in place, Democrats are preparing for a legal showdown over the limits of executive authority.
Meanwhile, global humanitarian efforts remain in limbo, with aid workers, foreign partners, and developing nations waiting to see whether the U.S. will continue its historic leadership in international assistance—or pull back entirely.
Conclusion: The Future of USAID Hangs in the Balance
As Trump reshapes U.S. foreign policy, USAID finds itself at a critical crossroads. While supporters see the agency as essential to global stability, critics argue it is inefficient and outdated.
For now, USAID’s website remains offline, thousands of aid workers remain furloughed or laid off, and the global aid community is left in uncertainty.
With Democrats vowing to fight any attempt to dismantle the agency, and Republicans pushing for more oversight and cuts, the next few months will determine whether USAID survives as an independent agency—or disappears altogether.
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