Rubio Confirms USAID Purge: 83% of Programs Eliminated

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Rubio Confirms USAID Purge: 83% of Programs Eliminated/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the completion of the Trump administration’s USAID overhaul, cutting 83% of its programs and transferring the remaining 18% to the State Department. The move follows Trump’s executive order to freeze foreign aid, with the administration arguing that many programs were wasteful or against U.S. interests. Critics, however, claim the cuts were rushed and illegal, with lifesaving aid programs—including food, water, and medical support—also eliminated. The sweeping shutdown has led to lawsuits, stranded workers, and unpaid contracts, marking a historic shift in U.S. foreign policy.

Federal Court Lifts Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze, $2B Must Be Paid — FILE – Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

USAID Shutdown: Quick Looks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirms 83% of USAID programs have been eliminated.
Trump’s executive order led to a six-week review, cutting 5,200 out of 6,200 programs.
Remaining 18% of programs will now be overseen by the State Department.
Critics say lifesaving aid efforts, including food and water support, were also terminated.
Lawsuits filed against the government over contract cancellations and unpaid funds.
USAID staff and contractors left stranded, awaiting back payments and travel expenses.

Deep Look: Trump Administration’s USAID Purge Ends With 83% of Programs Cut

Rubio Announces Completion of USAID Program Shutdown

In a historic shift away from foreign aid, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that the Trump administration has completed its six-week overhaul of USAID, resulting in the elimination of 83% of its programs.

The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order on January 20, which froze foreign aid funding and ordered a comprehensive review of the agency’s work. According to Rubio, the remaining 18% of USAID programs will now be moved under the State Department for more centralized oversight.

Rubio shared the update via a post on X, where he thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—led by Elon Musk—and State Department staff for executing the reforms.

“This was an overdue and historic reform,” Rubio stated.

Mass Program Terminations and Lack of Transparency

According to Rubio, 5,200 out of USAID’s 6,200 programs were terminated, a move he justified by claiming many initiatives failed to serve U.S. national interests.

However, critics argue the cuts were rushed and indiscriminate, with even lifesaving aid programs receiving termination notices. Some of the shuttered initiatives include:

Emergency nutritional support for starving children.
Clean drinking water projects for refugee camps in Sudan.
Famine prevention and epidemic control programs.

Aid groups and Democratic lawmakers have condemned the decision, calling the shutdown illegal since USAID programs are congressionally funded, meaning their termination requires Congressional approval.

The administration has also not disclosed which aid efforts were spared, leading to concerns that the cuts were politically motivated rather than strategic.

Legal Battles and Unpaid Contracts

The rapid dismantling of USAID has led to multiple lawsuits, with contractors and aid organizations accusing the administration of breaking contracts and failing to pay billions of dollars owed.

Among the key concerns:

Thousands of USAID workers have been laid off both in the U.S. and abroad.
Aid groups allege no proper program-by-program review took place.
USAID staff and contractors remain stranded overseas, awaiting back payments and travel assistance home.

Despite earlier reports that over 90% of USAID programs were cut, Rubio provided a slightly lower figure of 83%, but did not explain the discrepancy.

A Shift in U.S. Foreign Policy

The decision marks a significant departure from decades of U.S. foreign policy, which traditionally viewed foreign aid as a tool for national security—helping to stabilize regions, strengthen alliances, and build goodwill.

However, Trump’s administration has sought to redefine U.S. foreign assistance, favoring a more transactional approach. Republicans have long pushed for a narrower interpretation of U.S. national interests when it comes to foreign aid.

With USAID’s dismantling now complete, the focus shifts to how the State Department will administer the remaining programs, and whether Congress will challenge the legality of the cuts.