President Donald Trump has escalated his efforts to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), calling for the agency’s closure in a fiery statement on Friday.
“THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, reinforcing his administration’s aggressive push to shrink federal agencies.
The move is part of a broader initiative led by Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, the administration’s top donor, to downsize or eliminate large portions of the U.S. government. The most significant target has been USAID, the nation’s primary organization for global humanitarian aid, which operates in approximately 120 countries.
The Trump administration has already taken drastic steps, including ordering thousands of foreign-based USAID employees to return to the U.S. and freezing overseas aid programs. According to a report from The New York Times, the agency’s workforce—currently around 10,000—could be slashed to just 300 employees.
These changes have sparked legal challenges from labor unions, while Musk has reportedly offered federal workers buyout deals across multiple agencies. Critics argue that Trump does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally dismantle government bodies without congressional approval.
Trump has also proposed shutting down the Department of Education as part of his sweeping restructuring plans. The U.S. currently allocates approximately $58 billion annually for international aid, which accounts for only 0.7% to 1.4% of total government spending over the past 25 years, according to the Pew Research Center.
While conservatives and libertarians have long questioned USAID’s necessity, claiming wasteful spending, Trump’s renewed assault on the agency has intensified partisan divisions. Democrats warn that eliminating USAID could weaken U.S. diplomatic influence, particularly in competition with China, which has expanded its global outreach.
USAID plays a crucial role in global health, emergency response, and economic development in some of the world’s most impoverished regions. The agency is widely regarded as a key pillar of American “soft power,” helping to foster international alliances and stabilize conflict-prone areas.
Despite mounting legal and political opposition, Trump has doubled down on his position, dismissing criticism and reiterating allegations of fraud within USAID.
“USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY,” he posted. “SO MUCH OF IT FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE.”
With the administration’s rapid-fire actions and deepening partisan battles, the future of USAID—and the broader U.S. foreign aid program—remains uncertain.
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