Future of USAID In Doubt Amid Foreign Aid Freeze
The website of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) went offline Saturday without explanation as President Trump’s administration continues its freeze on U.S.-funded foreign aid, triggering furloughs, layoffs, and program shutdowns worldwide.
Why it matters
USAID, the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, is at the center of U.S. foreign policy efforts, countering China’s growing influence.
The Trump administration’s moves raise fears that it could be absorbed into the State Department, significantly altering its independence and operations.
Driving the news
- Congressional Democrats argue Trump lacks the legal authority to eliminate USAID as an independent agency. They warn that dissolving it would harm national security and America’s global standing.
- Trump and congressional Republicans claim much of foreign aid is wasteful and promotes liberal agendas.
- The administration placed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid on Trump’s first day in office, halting billions in humanitarian, development, and security assistance.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said USAID programs are under review but did not confirm any plans to dissolve the agency.
What they’re saying
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) accused Trump of deepening a “constitutional crisis,” arguing that presidents cannot unilaterally eliminate congressionally appropriated agencies.
- Billionaire Elon Musk, advising Trump on government downsizing, endorsed calls for dissolving USAID, posting on X: “Live by executive order, die by executive order.”
- Rubio defended the freeze, stating it was helping the U.S. secure more cooperation from aid recipients.
Between the lines
- USAID staffers spent the weekend monitoring whether agency signs and flags remained outside headquarters in Washington.
- Confusion over which programs are exempt from the freeze has created paralysis within global aid organizations.
Flashback
In Trump’s first term, he attempted to slash the foreign aid budget by a third. When Congress blocked it, his administration used freezes and other tactics to slow fund distribution—moves later ruled illegal under the Impoundment Control Act.
What’s next
Lawmakers are preparing for a legal showdown over USAID’s future, as concerns mount over the administration’s long-term strategy for U.S. foreign aid.
