Trump Calls for the Shutdown of USAID

President Donald Trump, on Friday has called for the complete closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary government agency responsible for distributing humanitarian aid worldwide.

The United State President took to his Truth Social platform to express his frustration with USAID, declaring in his signature all-caps style: “THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!”

Since beginning his second term last month, Trump has embarked on an aggressive campaign to reduce the size of the federal government. At the forefront of this effort is his push to scale back or eliminate USAID, an agency that provides billions in foreign aid each year.

According to a report in The New York Times, the administration has already taken steps to downsize the organization, recalling thousands of foreign-based staff back to the U.S. and freezing further aid distribution. The report also claims that USAID’s current workforce of approximately 10,000 employees is set to be slashed to just 300.

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Trump’s efforts are not limited to USAID. He has also voiced his intent to dismantle the Department of Education, signaling a broader push to restructure or eliminate various government agencies.

Reports indicate that billionaire Elon Musk, Trump’s top donor has played a key role in these efforts. Musk is reportedly offering federal workers buyouts across multiple government departments as part of the downsizing initiative.

Labor unions and congressional Democrats have pushed back against these actions, arguing that dismantling federal agencies without legislative approval would be unconstitutional. The administration, however, remains firm in its stance, with Trump continuing to portray USAID as a hub of corruption and inefficiency.

USAID plays a significant role in U.S. foreign policy, operating in over 120 countries and managing health and emergency assistance programs in some of the world’s poorest regions.

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The agency is often seen as an important tool of American “soft power,” helping to extend U.S. influence globally, particularly in regions where geopolitical rivals like China are also seeking to expand their reach.

The U.S. currently allocates around $58 billion annually for international assistance—an amount that has historically represented just 0.7% to 1.4% of total federal spending over the past 25 years, according to the Pew Research Center.

While USAID has long faced criticism from conservative and libertarian circles over perceived inefficiencies and wasteful spending, these concerns have gained renewed traction in Trump’s second term. His administration has ramped up attacks on the agency, claiming—without providing evidence—that it is rife with fraud.

In another post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY. SO MUCH OF IT, FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE.”