USAID workers were allowed brief access to their Washington headquarters on Thursday to collect personal belongings, a day after the Trump administration announced the termination of over 90% of the agency’s aid contracts.
In January, Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid to align spending with his “America First” policy. The freeze halted USAID operations globally, disrupting humanitarian efforts. Trump, with adviser Elon Musk, pushed to dismantle USAID, calling its spending wasteful.
Thousands of staff were placed on leave, and contractors were terminated. Workers had just 15 minutes to clear desks, leaving with cardboard boxes to applause from supporters.
Angela Stephens, a communications staffer since 2008, called it “an emotional and sad day,” adding, “We didn’t expect the entire dissolution of our agency.”
The State Department said USAID reviewed 6,200 multi-year awards, cutting 5,800 contracts worth $54 billion — a 92% reduction — along with a 30% slash to State Department foreign aid grants.
Despite promises to maintain critical programs like food aid and HIV treatments, major projects in South Africa and global malaria and maternal health initiatives lost funding. UNAIDS’ contract with USAID was also canceled.
Following a court order to release frozen funds, the administration fast-tracked the review, though payments for “legitimate expenses” before January 24 will be processed.
Senate Foreign Relations Democrats condemned the cuts, accusing the administration of creating a “power vacuum for adversaries like China and Russia.” They urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to testify.
The State Department and USAID plan to revamp foreign aid allocation in consultation with Congress.
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