Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the United States is officially canceling 83 percent of the programs under the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order in January that froze all US foreign aid pending a comprehensive review.

83 Percent of USAID Programs Cut After Review
Rubio shared the update on social media platform X, stating, “After a six-week review, we are officially canceling 83% of the programs at USAID.” He added that 5,200 contracts have been terminated, which he claims spent “tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States.”

USAID is responsible for distributing US humanitarian aid worldwide, managing health, development, and emergency programs in about 120 countries.

Massive Cuts Following Trump's "America First" Directive
President Trump’s directive aimed at aligning foreign aid with his “America First” policy has led to sweeping changes in US foreign assistance. On February 26, the State Department announced plans to slash 92 percent of USAID’s program funding, identifying 5,800 grants for elimination.

Rubio expressed gratitude towards the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), currently led by billionaire Elon Musk. Musk has been spearheading efforts to cut costs and reduce government spending, including job cuts across various departments.

Mixed Reactions to Foreign Aid Cuts
Trump and his allies argue that foreign aid is often wasteful and misaligned with US priorities. They believe cutting such programs helps redirect focus on domestic issues and strengthens national interests.

However, critics, including aid organizations, warn that these drastic cuts undermine global stability and public health efforts. They argue that foreign assistance plays a crucial role in promoting international security and advancing humanitarian objectives, which ultimately serve US interests.

Aid groups have also cautioned that reducing USAID’s presence could endanger the lives of vulnerable populations worldwide, especially in regions dependent on health and emergency support.