The US government’s independent agency for international development ( USAID ) is in charge of administering international aid for development and civilian purposes. Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID’s goal is to promote international development, charitable efforts, and political leadership. It operates in over 100 countries, focusing on places like international health, economic growth, crisis answer, and political changes. Since its inception, USAID has played a significant part in responding to humanitarian crises, encouraging economic growth, and advancing US foreign policy objectives through sweet power.
Recent actions by the Trump presidency have raised questions about the prospects for USAID. President Donald Trump enacted Executive Order 14169 on January 20, 2025, titled” Reevaluating and restructuring United States Foreign Aid.” To perform a thorough analysis of their success and positioning with national interests, this order imposed a 90-day delay on all US international development assistance programs. A wide range of assistance programs are being affected by this expulsion, which has resulted in layoffs and layoffs among support workers, both domestically and internationally. The shift has disrupted jobs related to health care, food safety, and training in vulnerable regions.
When the Trump administration put two of the top USAID security officials, John Voorhees and his deputy Brian McGill, on leave after refusing to grant access to classified materials to Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) inspection teams led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, the situation escalated further. The DOGE team lacked the necessary safety clearances to access the delicate intelligence reports that were included in the classified information. Despite this, Expand members finally gained access, raising significant legal and ethical questions about how to handle sensitive information.
Musk, who formed DOGE in cooperation with the Trump administration, has been vocal about his disdain for USAID, calling it a” criminal organization” and stating,” Time for it to die”, in a series of posts on X ( formerly Twitter ). Musk’s DOGE program is designed to streamline state businesses, with a emphasis on firing national workers, cutting applications, and slashing regulations. In response to this, a top Treasury official resigned following a new procedure at the Treasury Department where Expand teams accessed delicate Social Security and Medicare transaction systems.
USAID’s established website went online without explanation, more fueling guesswork about the company’s future. Information from within USAID indicate that staff members have questioned employees about domestic operations when they encountered outsiders wearing user badges, which are thought to be DOGE operatives. At least 56 older USAID officials have already been fired as a result of the Trump president’s assault, and many other international aid programs have been dismantled.
The management defends these actions by claiming that a large portion of USAID’s function is ineffective and conflicts with US objectives. President Trump has officially criticized the bureau, stating,” It’s been run by a bunch of extreme lunatics. And we’re getting them out”. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has supported the extraordinary ice on foreign aid, essentially shutting down USAID’s charitable, growth, and safety programs worldwide, which has resulted in thousands of layoffs among aid organizations.
Legislators have reacted strongly to the situation. Senator Elizabeth Warren blasted the administration’s actions, accusing Trump of allowing Musk to access sensitive personal information and halting vital government functions. We must exert every effort to protest and safeguard people from harm, according to Warren.
As the situation unfolds, the future of USAID remains uncertain. The potential long-term effects of US foreign policy, international humanitarian efforts, and national security are significant, and they raise questions about the balance between government efficiency and the protection of democratic institutions and international aid commitments.
With inputs from agencies
