The Trump administration has taken decisive steps to restructure the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), heightening concerns about the agency's independence. Reports indicate this effort includes placing dozens of USAID employees on administrative leave, effectively stripping the agency of its autonomy and shifting its control to the State Department.
Authorities familiar with this situation reveal nearly 30 career staff members from USAID’s Legislative and Public Affairs bureau suddenly lost access to their work emails over the weekend, bringing the total of senior employees placed on leave in just one week to nearly 100. Two senior officials supervising USAID’s security operations were also taken off their duties after reportedly refusing to hand over classified documents to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), new federal panel helmed by billionaire Elon Musk.
Signs outside the USAID headquarters, located in Washington, D.C., have reportedly vanished, causing alarm among employees and industry observers alike. Concurrently, Matt Hopson, USAID’s Chief of Staff, has resigned, seemingly tied to the recent suspensions of security officials, and the agency has not yet commented on his departure.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Trump recently ordered a freeze on nearly all foreign aid to allow for review—a decision reflecting his “America First” agenda. This freeze threatens to disrupt numerous global programs, impacting initiatives such as field hospitals for Thai refugees, landmine clearance efforts, and treatments for millions living with HIV.
Rep. Brian Mast, Chair of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, supports the move to integrate USAID with the State Department. He emphasized the need for “more command and control,” advocating for the current “purging” of officials across multiple agencies. When pressed for clarity on whether congressional approval is required for such significant restructuring, Mast refrained from providing specifics, highlighting the urgency to “secure America.”
While Musk has publicly branded USAID as “a criminal organization,” calling for its dissolution, many Democrats express alarm over potential legal ramifications of restructuring the agency without legislative approval. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Brian Schatz, along with Representatives Gregory Meeks and Lois Frankel, contend transforming USAID’s structure would necessitate “an Act of Congress,” stressing the importance of maintaining the agency’s independent voice and capability.
Sen. Chris Murphy has been particularly vocal, labeling the administration's actions as “illegal” and labeling them “an assault on the Constitution.” Murphy ominously warned of dire consequences, stating “malnourished babies who depend on U.S. aid will die” if these programs are dismantled.
Following calls for clarity, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced exceptions for the aid freeze allowing life-saving assistance to continue, targeting projects with immediate humanitarian needs, including food and shelter.
The freeze has triggered the abrupt cessation of various humanitarian operations worldwide. Critical programs such as soup kitchens in Sudan and hospital services, particularly those operating through USAID funding, have been forced to shut down, leaving vulnerable populations without necessary resources. Some organizations have begun to react to the aid freeze, which has led to operational disruptions from Taipei to Tijuana.
The overarching concern is the re-establishment of USAID as merely another arm of the State Department, rather than its own independent entity addressing global humanitarian needs. USAID has historically played a pivotal role in delivering aid, with programs funded to the tune of $43 billion for fiscal year 2023 prior to layoffs impacting more than 10,000 workers.
The current state of USAID raises questions not only about its future and operational viability but also about the broader ramifications for U.S. foreign relations. For countries heavily reliant on American support—such as Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Somalia—the ominous shadow of funding reductions looms large.
Meanwhile, as tensions mount surrounding these changes, USAID’s official website has been taken offline. This outage has sparked concern for both agency operations and the transparency of the government's actions moving forward.
The National Security Council is reportedly evaluating legal avenues to allow for Trump's executive order officially dismantling USAID’s independence. Such actions would not only reshape how the U.S. allocates foreign aid but could fundamentally alter what humanitarian support looks like globally, stirring deep concerns among international development advocates and local communities alike.
The potential erosion of USAID is emblematic of broader shifts within the Trump administration, which has frequently challenged the status quo of how governmental agencies operate. With the future of global aid uncertainty hanging by a thread, it appears the fight over USAID's fate is far from over.