Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will cease to distribute foreign assistance worldwide, with the State Department taking charge of any programs the Trump administration chooses to maintain. Effective July 1, this shift aims to streamline aid efforts and align them more closely with America’s priorities.
Rubio’s Critique of USAID
In a statement, Rubio sharply criticized USAID’s track record, arguing that its programs have often failed to deliver meaningful results. “Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War. Development objectives have rarely been met, instability has often worsened, and anti-American sentiment has only grown,” he wrote.
Rubio emphasized a new direction under President Donald Trump, stating, “This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end. Under the Trump Administration, we will finally have a foreign funding mission in America that prioritizes our national interests.”
“As of July 1st, USAID will officially cease to implement foreign assistance. Foreign assistance programs that align with administration policies—and which advance American interests—will be administered by the State Department, where they will be delivered with more accountability, strategy, and efficiency.”
Sweeping Cuts Under DOGE
This decision follows a sweeping overhaul led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which targeted USAID as part of Trump’s pledge to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal operations.
The agency faced scrutiny for controversial funding decisions, such as a $1.5 million initiative to “advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities” and $70,000 for a “DEI musical” in Ireland.
Following a six-week review, Rubio announced on March 11 that the State Department would terminate over 80% of USAID’s programs, slashing approximately 5,200 of its 6,200 initiatives.
Backlash from Critics
The restructuring has sparked fierce backlash from Democrats and activists, who argue it jeopardizes critical global aid efforts. Actress and philanthropist Charlize Theron voiced her outrage at the administration’s cuts during the annual Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program Block Party, as reported by Variety.
“The world feels like it’s burning because it is,” Theron said. “Foreign aid cuts brought HIV and AIDS programs in my home country of South Africa to an absolute standstill,” she added.
“All of this is not just detrimental, it’s dangerous. People will lose their lives. Many have already, unfortunately, and at a frightening rate. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see this kind of unnecessary suffering.”
Theron also condemned recent immigration raids in Los Angeles and raised concerns about threats to marginalized groups. “Here in Los Angeles, in the U.S. and across the globe, we are moving backwards fast. Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals.”
“Women’s rights are becoming less and less every day, qu**r and trans lives are increasingly being erased, and gender-based violence is on the rise. This isn’t just policy, it’s personal. F— them,” she said.
Despite her criticism, Theron struck a hopeful note, urging collective action. “Standing up, organizing, protesting, voting and caring for each other, and refusing to accept that this is the new normal,” she stated.
The Fairview Gazette will provide you with any updates regarding moves from the Trump administration.
