Trump Administration Plans to Abolish USAID, Merge with State Department

The Trump administration has moved to formally dissolve the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with plans to merge its functions into the State Department by September 2025. This decision, communicated to employees on the same day as a significant earthquake struck Myanmar, has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian advocates, who argue it undermines U.S. leadership in global aid efforts. Acting deputy administrator Jeremy Lewin informed staff that all non-essential positions at USAID would be eliminated, with remaining personnel facing termination dates in July and September. Critics, including former USAID officials, lament that this restructuring jeopardizes critical disaster relief capabilities and allows geopolitical rivals to fill the void left by the U.S. The move is expected to provoke legal challenges due to the abrupt closure of a congressionally established agency. This decision aligns with President Trump's ongoing critique of foreign aid as a misuse of taxpayer dollars.