The impacts of dismantling USAID

This report presents key facts and figures about the impacts of dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is the main aid agency for the U.S. government and has overseen the distribution of U.S. foreign aid around the world since its establishment in 1961. Donald Trump has been an outspoken critical of how much the U.S. spends on foreign aid and has accused USAID of being corrupt and wasting taxpayer money, although foreign aid accounts for just one percent of the federal budget and there has been no evidence of widespread corruption or waste in USAID. On the first day of his second term in January 2025, Trump ordered a freeze and 90-day review of all U.S. foreign assistance. By the end of March, the review had been completed; 83 percent of USAID programs were terminated, the agency’s staff was cut from around 10,000 to 15 positions, and it was announced that certain USAID functions would be overtaken by the Department of State while all others would be discontinued, effectively shutting down the agency.