In a major overhaul of U.S. foreign aid, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that 83% of USAID programs have been canceled, following a comprehensive six-week review. The decision marks one of the largest cuts to U.S. foreign aid in modern history, eliminating approximately 5,200 contracts and saving tens of billions of taxpayer dollars.
Rubio explained that the vast majority of USAID programs did not serve core U.S. national interests and, in some cases, even harmed them. By cutting unnecessary funding and redirecting resources to strategic priorities, the administration is ensuring that American tax dollars are no longer wasted on ineffective global initiatives.
Remaining Programs Moved Under the State Department
With most USAID programs eliminated, the remaining 18%—roughly 1,000 programs—will now be managed under the State Department. This shift is part of a broader Trump administration effort to consolidate and streamline government agencies, ensuring that foreign aid aligns with U.S. diplomatic and security objectives.
For years, USAID has operated with little oversight, funding projects that benefited foreign governments and non-governmental organizations at the expense of American taxpayers. The restructuring restores accountability, ensuring that every dollar spent on foreign aid directly serves America’s interests rather than globalist agendas.
Elon Musk: “Tough but Necessary”
Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been a vocal advocate for cutting wasteful spending. He described the USAID restructuring as “tough but necessary”, arguing that foreign aid should have always been managed by the State Department rather than a separate agency with minimal oversight and accountability.
Musk emphasized that the American people deserve transparency, and that government agencies should be held to the same efficiency standards as private-sector organizations. He reaffirmed that these cuts are not about abandoning international engagement but about ensuring aid is used wisely and effectively.
Trump Administration’s Push to Cut Globalist Waste
The USAID overhaul aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to reduce unnecessary government spending and prioritize American interests over bloated globalist projects. The administration has long argued that past foreign aid policies were riddled with corruption, inefficiency, and misplaced priorities, often benefiting foreign elites and bureaucracies instead of people in need.
Critics of the cuts claim that reducing USAID programs could impact U.S. influence abroad, but supporters argue that real influence comes from strength—not from blindly throwing money at ineffective programs. By eliminating failed initiatives and focusing on diplomacy through the State Department, the administration is modernizing America’s approach to foreign aid while protecting U.S. taxpayers.
America First: A Smarter Approach to Foreign Aid
With USAID dramatically reduced, the Trump administration has sent a clear message—America will no longer fund wasteful, ineffective programs that do not directly serve U.S. national interests. Instead of pouring billions into questionable initiatives, the administration is ensuring that foreign aid is used strategically, efficiently, and only in ways that benefit the American people.
This move represents a historic shift in U.S. foreign policy, one that puts America First by cutting government excess, demanding accountability, and ensuring that taxpayer money is no longer squandered on globalist pet projects.