Trump Cuts 83% of USAID Programs, Pauses Aid

The Trump administration, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk, has canceled 83% of programs run by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) following a six-week review. This decision affects 5,200 contracts and aims to realign U.S. foreign aid with national interests, but has resulted in significant backlash due to the abrupt ending of numerous international health, education, and humanitarian projects. The remaining 18% of USAID programs will be managed by the State Department. President Trump's executive order on January 20 initiated a 90-day pause on foreign assistance, leading to widespread disruption in aid distribution globally. While supporters of the cuts argue that USAID was inefficient and misaligned with American priorities, critics cite the negative impacts on global aid and development efforts.