What Just Happened?
In a historic move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the cancellation of 83% of USAID programs, affecting 5,200 contracts worldwide.
The remaining contracts—approximately 1,000—will now be managed by the State Department.
This decision follows a six-week review led by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aiming to align foreign aid with U.S. national interests. (RELATED: Senior Diplomat Dismissed Following Comments About Trump)
Rubio took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain the move:
After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 10, 2025
The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled 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.
In…
“Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who put in long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform,” Rubio concluded.
Elon Musk replied, calling it a “tough, but necessary” decision.
“Good working with you,” he added. “The important parts of USAID should always have been with Dept. of State.” (RELATED: Tensions Boil Over In White House Cabinet Meeting: Elon Musk Clashes With Marco Rubio And Sean Duffy)
The Hill provides additional details:
Musk and Rubio reportedly battled last week at a Cabinet meeting over cuts at the State Department, underscoring tensions between Cabinet secretaries and the tech mogul. President Trump said the leaders of departments would have leadership over cuts they are administering after the clash.
The two joined Trump for dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night after the altercation, and appear to have been trying to show they are working together.
…
While the Trump administration looked to dismantle USAID, it led to a wave of lawsuits. In an emergency ruling last week, the Supreme Court refused to halt another judge’s decision that ordered the administration to release the $2 billion in foreign aid payments already owed to other countries through existing contracts.
USAID, established in 1961 to provide humanitarian and development aid, has faced intense scrutiny during President Trump’s second term. Monday morning’s overhaul marks a historic shift in U.S. foreign aid policy.
The move comes amid warnings from health and aid organizations, cautioning that these changes could trigger global health crises, including increased deaths from diseases like HIV and malaria.
READ NEXT: Armed Suspect Shot By Secret Service Just Feet From The White House
Put on your own oxygen mask, before you help others.
We the People should be helping our own, BEFORE we help other nations.We need to live in a healthy nation, monetarily, morally, and health wise, BEFORE we help others. Start with the American indigenous people and Appalachia. Our homeless, especially, our homeless Vets. Build mental facilities, and house our citizens, who have addiction problems, and those who are mentally ill. START AT HOME!
No contract is binding anymore if it is why do people pay to have work done to their home and no one shows up, yes, they get arrested but the money is gone?