The US government, under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has officially cancelled 83% of the programs administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

This announcement follows a six-week review that identified approximately 5,200 contracts deemed to have spent tens of billions of taxpayer dollars in ways that purportedly did not serve the core national interests of the United States.

The remaining contracts, around 1,000, will be managed directly by the State Department, a decision that faces opposition from lawmakers who argue it requires congressional approval.

This sweeping reduction in USAID’s scope follows a directive issued by President Donald Trump at the beginning of his second term on January 20, 2021, which included a 90-day suspension of all foreign aid.

The administration has framed this suspension and subsequent cuts as a necessary measure against what they describe as wasteful government spending.

The review process was overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is headed by Elon Musk, an advisor to the Trump administration.

The review has led to significant staff reductions and contract terminations, escalating concerns about the implications for international assistance.

Humanitarian groups have expressed alarm over the potential impacts, particularly in regions facing critical challenges such as famine in the Democratic Republic of Congo and access to clean drinking water in Burkina Faso.

Experts interpret these actions as a historic shift in US foreign policy, moving away from long-standing practices of bolstering international alliances through aid and instead prioritizing an 'America First' approach.

The moves initiated by DOGE are perceived as efforts to streamline government operations and reduce spending, aligning with the administration's broader fiscal policies.

Rubio has publicly praised the efforts of DOGE in executing these cancellations, and Musk has characterized the reductions as 'tough, but necessary', asserting that core functions of foreign aid should have been integrated within the State Department all along.

Established in 1961, USAID has been instrumental in delivering humanitarian assistance across 60 countries, primarily through contractors engaged in areas such as disease prevention, famine relief, and disaster response.

In 2023, USAID's budget was reported to exceed $40 billion, making it one of the most significant contributors to global aid.

The implications of significantly dismantling USAID raise questions about the future of foreign assistance and its impact on vulnerable populations worldwide, amid ongoing global crises.