USAID closed: reasons and consequences of Trump’s reform
4 february 2025 в 01:28
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the largest official aid agencies in the world, has become the latest target in President Donald Trump’s efforts to reform the federal government and eliminate agencies that do not align with his priorities.
With the support of Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed as the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), employees were placed on unpaid leave on Monday, February 3. The USAID headquarters was closed for the day, and employees were instructed to stay home via email. Additionally, the agency’s website and social media accounts were shut down.
Around 390 employees, mostly contractors from the U.S., were laid off on January 28, according to a USAID representative in conversation with NPR.
Learn more about the agency’s activities and the reasons for its liquidation below.
USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, funds projects aimed at combating poverty, diseases, and humanitarian crises in countries around the world.
Established under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, USAID was founded during President John F. Kennedy’s administration.
Musk stated during a conversation at X Spaces early Monday morning: «As for the matter with USAID, I have discussed it in detail with (the president), and he agreed that we should shut it down».
«It was being run by a group of radical lunatics, and we are getting rid of them, and then we will decide on its future», - he added during a speech at Joint Base Andrews. Later, Musk took to his social media platform X, writing: «It's time for it to die» and calling USAID a «criminal organization».
As of now, President Trump has not made an official statement regarding the closure of USAID.
When the Trump administration issued a directive to suspend foreign aid at the end of January, a USAID representative, speaking to NPR, noted that the total number of agency employees, including contractors, is around 10,000.
With a global team operating in over 100 countries, USAID also collaborates with more than 4,000 organizations worldwide
With the support of Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed as the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), employees were placed on unpaid leave on Monday, February 3. The USAID headquarters was closed for the day, and employees were instructed to stay home via email. Additionally, the agency’s website and social media accounts were shut down.
Around 390 employees, mostly contractors from the U.S., were laid off on January 28, according to a USAID representative in conversation with NPR.
Learn more about the agency’s activities and the reasons for its liquidation below.
USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, funds projects aimed at combating poverty, diseases, and humanitarian crises in countries around the world.
Established under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, USAID was founded during President John F. Kennedy’s administration.
Musk stated during a conversation at X Spaces early Monday morning: «As for the matter with USAID, I have discussed it in detail with (the president), and he agreed that we should shut it down».
«It was being run by a group of radical lunatics, and we are getting rid of them, and then we will decide on its future», - he added during a speech at Joint Base Andrews. Later, Musk took to his social media platform X, writing: «It's time for it to die» and calling USAID a «criminal organization».
As of now, President Trump has not made an official statement regarding the closure of USAID.
When the Trump administration issued a directive to suspend foreign aid at the end of January, a USAID representative, speaking to NPR, noted that the total number of agency employees, including contractors, is around 10,000.
With a global team operating in over 100 countries, USAID also collaborates with more than 4,000 organizations worldwide
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