U.S. shuts down USAID

Washington, D.C.- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as the primary administrator of U.S. foreign aid. From now on, the State Department will directly oversee all aid programs, aiming to ensure that American assistance aligns with national interests and avoids supporting ineffective governments or organizations aligned with rival powers like China.

In a public column titled “Restoring Foreign Aid to Its Greatness,” Rubio criticized USAID for inefficient spending and lack of tangible results. He noted that a review conducted during the Trump administration revealed over US$715 billion in adjusted cumulative expenditures with little measurable impact. He accused the agency of evolving into a “global NGO-industrial complex,” serving the interests of elites and NGO executives while failing to uplift the populations it was meant to help.

Rubio cited statistics showing that in 2023, many aid-recipient countries—especially in sub-Saharan Africa—voted against U.S. interests 71% of the time at the United Nations. He also questioned massive investments in the Middle East, North Africa, and Palestinian territories under hostile control, totaling nearly US$100 billion. Moving forward, U.S. aid will be framed as a strategic investment rather than charity, with a strong focus on national security, fair trade, and countering China’s global influence.