More than 80% of USAID programmes 'officially ending'

The vast majority of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) programmes have been terminated after a six-week purge, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced.

On X, Rubio said that the initiatives "spent tens of billions in ways that did not serve" or harmed US interests.

The remaining programmes - just 18% - will now be administered by the State Department.

Humanitarian organisations around the world have warned that the controversial move to end long-running US aid programmes is already having dire consequences around the world, potentially endangering lives.

The Trump administration has repeatedly made clear that it wants overseas spending to be closely aligned with its "America First" approach.

Shortly after Trump returned to the White House on 20 January, thousands of USAID employees were put on leave, and those working overseas recalled.

What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'?
In an executive order signed on his first day, Trump also moved to freeze foreign assistance funding and ordered a review of USAID's work abroad, led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge.

Thousands of development contracts also were cancelled, and thousands of employees ultimately fired.

In his X post, Rubio said that after the review, the US was "officially ending" about 5,200 of USAID's 6,200 programmes.

"In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programmes we are keeping....to be administered more effectively under the State Department," Rubio added.

Additionally, Rubio thanked Doge and State Department staff "who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform".

America first, bitches!

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx2401vn5ro