Dramatic shake-up of U.S. foreign aid, the Trump administration is pushing forward with a radical plan to dismantle and rename the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), slashing billions in aid and limiting assistance to a few key areas. An internal memo, obtained by Reuters, outlines a blueprint that would drastically reshape how Washington distributes foreign aid—cutting off programs deemed unnecessary and aligning funding with U.S. geopolitical interests.
The proposal comes as part of Trump and Elon Musk’s aggressive push to shrink the federal government, arguing that taxpayer dollars have long been wasted on efforts that fail to benefit the U.S. The administration’s sweeping moves have already thrown global humanitarian programs into disarray, with more than 80% of USAID’s grants abruptly terminated.
USAID Scrapped? Meet the U.S. Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance
According to the memo, USAID is set to be renamed the U.S. Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance and would be folded into the State Department, limiting its focus to disaster relief, global health, and food security. Programs related to democracy promotion, religious freedom, and women’s empowerment would be stripped from the agency and handled directly by the State Department.
The Fallout: Chaos in Global Aid Efforts
Trump’s foreign aid freeze—enacted on his first day in office—has already jeopardized life-saving food and medical assistance worldwide. The halt on USAID contracts has led to logistical nightmares, with vital shipments of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) stranded, putting thousands of lives at risk.
Legal Battles and Political Firestorm
The controversial move has sparked fierce backlash. A federal judge recently blocked Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency from shutting down USAID, ruling that the agency’s abrupt dismantling likely violates the U.S. Constitution. However, the administration remains steadfast in its mission to overhaul America’s foreign aid system.
As USAID officials scramble to navigate the transition, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to review the proposal in the coming weeks. The question now is: Will Trump’s foreign aid revolution reshape global assistance forever—or will legal battles derail his boldest cuts yet?
