Rubio Announces Massive USAID Cuts—Billions in Spending Scrapped- wna24

The U.S. government is set to significantly scale back its foreign aid initiatives, cutting 83% of programs under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision, announced today by U.S. Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio on social media, follows a six-week review of the agency’s spending.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Rubio stated that 5,200 contracts have been canceled, citing concerns that these programs did not serve—and in some cases even harmed—U.S. national interests. While the exact details of the canceled programs were not disclosed, the move is expected to save tens of billions of dollars.

“The 5,200 contracts that are now canceled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States,” Rubio wrote.

Despite the deep cuts, not all USAID programs will be scrapped. Rubio confirmed that roughly 1,000 programs (18% of the original total) will remain but will be restructured under the State Department for more effective management.

“In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping (approximately 1,000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department,” he said.

The restructuring effort was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which played a key role in reviewing USAID’s operations. Rubio praised DOGE and government staff for their work, calling the reform “overdue and historic.”

USAID has long been a cornerstone of U.S. international development efforts, funding projects in areas such as global health, economic development, humanitarian assistance, and democracy promotion. The cuts raise questions about the future of U.S. engagement abroad and the impact on nations that rely on American aid.

While supporters of the move argue that it will eliminate wasteful spending and refocus resources on America’s core interests, critics warn that reducing foreign aid could weaken U.S. influence on the global stage and create instability in aid-dependent regions.

The shift in USAID policy marks one of the most significant overhauls in the agency’s history. As the remaining programs transition to State Department oversight, the long-term effects—both domestically and internationally—will be closely watched.