The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to be shutdown as the Trump administration has ordered nearly all staff to be placed on leave starting Friday, with overseas missions closing.
This development marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, impacting global programs that have historically received USAID funding.
The Biden administration had requested $64.4 billion in discretionary budget authority for 2025 for the State Department, USAID, and other international initiatives.
However, on February 3, the Trump administration ordered the closure of USAID’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, with discussions underway about potentially dissolving the agency entirely.
USAID has long been a key player in U.S. foreign policy, providing aid to countries worldwide under the banner of so-called “humanitarian assistance and development.”
The agency has also faced scrutiny for its role in funding programs that critics argue align with broader geopolitical strategies rather than purely philanthropic goals.
Historically, USAID has been involved in funding initiatives such as international vaccine programs and “democracy promotion efforts.”
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Bill Gates
One of the major recipients of USAID funding has been the GAVI Alliance, an international vaccine initiative supported by Bill Gates.
In 2020, USAID committed $1.16 billion to GAVI for fiscal years 2020 to 2023, with an additional $1.58 billion pledged for the following five years. Reports indicate that total contributions to GAVI could exceed $2 billion.
George Soros
Additionally, USAID has been linked to funding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in political and economic programs worldwide.
A 2017 report from the Heritage Foundation suggested that George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) had played a significant role in implementing USAID-funded initiatives since at least 2009.
Historical documents indicate that USAID and OSF collaborated as early as 1993 to train professionals in Eastern Europe.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, OSF-affiliated NGOs were involved in political movements across Eastern Europe, including Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004.
In Latin America, USAID funding has also come under fire.
Judicial Watch reported in 2018 that USAID supported initiatives in Guatemala between 2015 and 2018, with claims that approximately $100 million was allocated to various programs in the region.
Documents also revealed collaboration between USAID and Soros-affiliated groups in Albania, where a 2016 initiative received $9 million in funding.
The financial scale of USAID’s operations remains substantial. In 2024, then-President Joe Biden requested nearly $30 billion for the agency’s 2025 budget. This allocation highlights the agency’s expansive reach and the political debates surrounding its funding priorities.
WEF
Beyond individual programs, USAID has also been involved with international organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF). Between 2013 and 2022, USAID invested approximately $26 million in multi-year agreements connected to WEF initiatives.
In response, House Republicans introduced the ‘Defund Davos Act’ in January 2024, seeking to prohibit U.S. government agencies, including USAID, from funding the WEF.
Legislators supporting the bill argued against the use of taxpayer dollars to support the Forum’s initiatives.
The potential shutdown of USAID represents a major policy shift, raising questions about the future of U.S. foreign aid and its role in international development. Whether this move leads to a restructuring or a complete dissolution of the agency remains to be seen.
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