The Trump administration has formally dissolved the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), consolidating its functions into the Department of State. The move, announced Tuesday by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a sweeping restructuring of U.S. foreign aid strategy and ends over six decades of independent U.S. development assistance.
USAID is shutting its doors today--marking the end of democracy, diplomacy, and decency all in one fell swoop.
— Jess Calarco (@jessicacalarco.bsky.social) Jul 1, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Rubio stated that the change is driven by the need for tighter oversight, efficiency, and a recalibration of priorities. “USAID had decades and a near-infinite taxpayer budget to advance American influence, promote economic development worldwide, and allow billions to stand on their own two feet,” he said. “Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War.”
The decision follows months of internal audits led by the Department of Government Efficiency. Those audits targeted thousands of aid programs, many of which have now been defunded or downsized. According to the administration, remaining funds will be subject to new performance standards and must demonstrate measurable returns for advancing U.S. interests.
Former President George W. Bush reminded them, “You’ve shown the great strength of America through your work, and that is our good heart.” President Barack Obama called the decision to dismantle USAID “a colossal mistake,” adding, “To many people around the world, USAID is the United States.”
— Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) June 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Rubio cited stark statistics to justify the overhaul. Sub-Saharan African nations, despite receiving $165 billion in USAID outlays since 1991, have supported U.S. positions at the United Nations only 29% of the time—lower than any other region globally. In the Middle East and North Africa, $89 billion in assistance has yielded U.S. favorability ratings that trail those of China in all but one nation.
He also criticized longstanding aid to Gaza and the West Bank, which totaled $9.3 billion since 1991. Rubio alleged that portions of this funding benefited groups with ties to Hamas and generated “grievances rather than gratitude” toward the United States.
It’s a dark day in U.S. foreign policy as the Trump admin completes its illegal dismantling of USAID.
The dedicated men and women of USAID have set a shining example across the globe.
As this report shows, these cuts will have deadly consequences — and Trump and Rubio are responsible.
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@vanhollen.senate.gov) July 1, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The reorganization reflects a broader policy shift. Under the State Department, aid will now be guided by a model that emphasizes trade, opportunity, and investment over direct assistance. Rubio underscored the need for aid recipients to understand the origin of U.S. assistance, pledging to replace generic NGO branding with clear American identification. “There will now be one recognizable symbol: the American flag,” he said.
Just watched an episode on MSN about Trump's cruelty of withdrawing USAID. The pain caused by Trump just continues. I hope he goes down as the worst president in history. Stay out of the US Canadians, not worth the risk.
— Gwenda (@goonda13.bsky.social) July 2, 2025 at 7:30 AM
USAID’s presence in numerous international NGOs has been a source of tension abroad as well. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized USAID in February, claiming that it had funded left-wing groups aiming to destabilize his government. He called for such international funding networks to be dismantled.
Rubio echoed that concern, asserting that USAID too often prioritized international stakeholders over U.S. taxpayers and elected leadership. “That ends today,” he wrote.
USAID *did* communicate well, explaining how they simultaneously benefited people around the world and advanced US interests, which is why bipartisan majorities kept re-upping it. Good point.
USAID wasn’t a campaign topic, and Trump/Musk bad faith attacks weren’t a USAID public messaging failure.
— Nicholas Grossman (@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social) June 30, 2025 at 1:23 PM