A worker removes a sign for the U.S. Agency for International Development from its headquarters on 7 February 2025 in Washington, D.C.
The US Department of State has officially informed Congress of its intention to effectively liquidate the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and transfer some of its functions to the Department of State. A statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio was published on the department’s official website.
According to him, the reorganisation envisages that by 1 July 2025, some of USAID’s functions will be transferred to the State Department, while the rest will cease to exist, as they “do not meet the administration’s priorities”.
“Foreign aid, when used properly, can advance U.S. national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen partnerships. But USAID has long strayed from its original mission, resulting in excessive spending and insufficient results,” Rubio said. He also stressed that thanks to US President Donald Trump, “this misguided and fiscally irresponsible era is over”.
The Secretary of State stressed that Washington will continue to implement important humanitarian programmes, but they will be focused on “strategic investments that strengthen our partners and our country”.
Reuters reports that the State Department is planning massive layoffs at USAID. On Friday, it became known that all positions that are not required by law will be cut.
USAID was one of the first agencies to be cut under the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. On 10 March, Marco Rubio announced the closure of 83% of the agency’s programmes.
A US federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk and DOGE may have used unconstitutional powers to eliminate USAID. This decision may become the basis for legal challenges to the Trump administration’s reforms.
