USAID Operations End as State Department Takes Control of Foreign Aid Programs
The U.S. Department of State has officially shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), marking the end of the agency's 60-year legacy as America's primary foreign aid organization.
The closure, announced Friday, involves the complete integration of USAID's functions into the State Department, with termination notices issued to all remaining personnel. Ongoing projects are being either transferred to State Department bureaus or terminated following internal review.
USAID Closure Announcement
The State Department emphasized that this restructuring aims to streamline foreign assistance under unified leadership. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the move as a necessary modernization effort, receiving support from former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who advocated for reducing government bureaucracy.
USAID's Legacy and Impact:
- Founded in 1961 under President Kennedy
- Operated in over 100 countries
- Managed $20+ billion annual budget
- Focus areas: public health, democratic governance, agriculture, disaster response
The transition process will be managed by a dedicated team within the State Department's Bureau of Global Affairs and Public Diplomacy. Existing contracts will undergo individual evaluation, while no new USAID programs will be initiated.
Critics, including Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Barbara Lee, warn that dissolving USAID could diminish American soft power and sacrifice valuable institutional expertise in global development and humanitarian assistance.
The closure comes after unsuccessful legal attempts to prevent the shutdown, effectively ending one of America's most significant international development agencies. All USAID staff members have been formally released from service, with their responsibilities now transferred to the State Department's jurisdiction.