Desk:Since Donald Trump became the President of the United States, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a topic of intense discussion. In his first speech, Trump made it clear that he would follow an “America First” policy and strongly opposed providing financial aid to other countries. Even Elon Musk has called USAID a “criminal organization” and suggested it should be shut down. However, instead of closing it, the Trump administration is preparing for major reforms. The agency’s responsibility has now been handed over to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to an official statement from the U.S. government, USAID has strayed from its original mission. The agency’s funding has been deemed ineffective for American interests. To bring it back on track, President Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as its acting administrator. Rubio has informed Congress that foreign aid will be reviewed, and the agency will undergo restructuring. The objective is to ensure that USAID works in the interest of Americans and that taxpayers’ money is not wasted.
It is worth noting that USAID’s funding had already been halted, and many employees were placed on leave. Following this, Trump’s close ally Elon Musk criticized the agency, claiming it spends billions of dollars annually on humanitarian aid for other countries. Reports suggest that Musk became frustrated when his department, DOI (Department of the Interior), was denied access to USAID operations, leading him to label it a criminal organization.
Donald Trump has also been critical of the Biden administration’s aid to Ukraine. USAID was established in 1961 by former President John F. Kennedy as a humanitarian wing to combat natural disasters, diseases, and poverty worldwide. The organization was created to support democratic values through economic assistance. However, under the Trump administration, its future now seems uncertain.