The Trump administration has instructed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to ensure its operations are in line with the “America First” foreign policy agenda.
The US State Department states that this is essential for promoting and safeguarding the interests of US citizens.
“As we evaluate USAID and ensure it is in alignment with an America First agenda and the efforts of the State Department, we will continue to protect the American people’s interests and ensure their tax dollars are not wasted,” the State Department stated on Monday.
Amid concerns regarding the future of the humanitarian agency, the State Department expressed on Monday that USAID has for a long time strayed from its original mission of responsibly advancing American interests abroad.
“It is now abundantly clear that significant portions of USAID funding are not aligned with the core national interests of the United States,” the department noted in a statement.
The department’s comments came as President Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the Acting Administrator of USAID, describing this as “an interim step toward gaining control and better understanding” of the agency’s activities.
Senior USAID officials and contractors have been placed on leave, and several offices, including the headquarters in Washington, D.C., were abruptly closed on Monday.
While government officials argue that the USAID overhaul ensures taxpayer funds are directed towards U.S. interests, critics warn that it jeopardzes lives, destabilizes alliances, and undermines America’s global standing.
On January 20, 2025, shortly after his swearing-in, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending nearly all foreign aid for 90 days, with exceptions for emergency food programmes and military aid to Israel and Egypt.
Programs such as PEPFAR (HIV/AIDS relief) face immediate disruption, threatening treatment access for millions worldwide.
By Eric Biegon
