State Department formally notifies Congress it is effectively dissolving USAID

Last edited Fri Mar 28, 2025, 02:41 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 2:34 PM EDT, Fri March 28, 2025


CNN — The State Department on Friday formally notified Congress it is effectively dissolving the US Agency for International Development and moving some of its functions under the department. The reorganization will be done by July 1, the State Department said, sounding a death knell for USAID, a multibillion-dollar agency that fought poverty and hunger around the world. The shuttering of an agency established by Congress without the legislative branch weighing in is expected to draw legal challenges.

The Trump administration has accused USAID of mismanaging taxpayer dollars and funding overseas programs that aren’t in US interests. Current and former USAID employees and aid experts have countered that the agency, while imperfect, meets vital humanitarian needs and bolsters America’s soft power.

In its first weeks in office, the Trump administration moved to dismantle USAID and freeze almost all foreign assistance, pending a review of those programs. Since then, thousands of USAID employees have been fired or put on leave and billions of dollars in aid contracts have been canceled. Less than 900 USAID employees remained on the job as of last week, according to another notice from the agency to Congress.

The slashing of the agency brought lawsuits from aid groups and USAID employees, some of whom described harrowing journeys home from overseas for which they weren’t reimbursed.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/28/politics/state-department-formally-notifies-congress-effectively-dissolving-usaid/index.html