State Department Officially Shutters USAID

The State Department announced Friday it will officially dismantle the bloated U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), folding select operations into its own ranks by July 1.

The long-overdue decision puts an end to a multi-billion-dollar bureaucratic behemoth that has squandered taxpayer dollars on questionable overseas handouts for decades.

The Trump administration, fulfilling promises to drain the swamp and slash government overreach, accused USAID of gross mismanagement and funding foreign programs that do little to advance American interests.

According to the press statement by Marco Rubio:

“Foreign assistance done right can advance our national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen our partnerships with key allies.

Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago. As a result, the gains were too few and the costs were too high.

Thanks to President Trump, this misguided and fiscally irresponsible era is now over. We are reorienting our foreign assistance programs to align directly with what is best for the United States and our citizens. We are continuing essential lifesaving programs and making strategic investments that strengthen our partners and our own country. This is yet another promise made and delivered to the American people.

Note: Today, the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have notified Congress on their intent to undertake a reorganization that would involve realigning certain USAID functions to the Department by July 1, 2025, and discontinuing the remaining USAID functions that do not align with Administration priorities.”

According to CNN, Jeremy Lewin, a senior official from DOGE now overseeing USAID’s transition, communicated to the remaining staff that the reorganization would “enhance efficiency, accountability, uniformity, and strategic impact in delivering foreign assistance programs.”

Lewin emphasized that this restructuring would allow the U.S. to “speak with one voice in foreign affairs.”

The restructuring will maintain certain critical functions of USAID, such as humanitarian assistance and global health initiatives, under the State Department’s umbrella.

However, much of USAID’s regional development work will be absorbed into corresponding divisions of the State Department, with other functions deemed duplicative and set for elimination.

According to the New York Post, “Per the State Department memo, USAID may now rehire some employees to “assume the responsible administration of USAID’s remaining life-saving and strategic aid programming” while “all non-statutory positions at USAID will be eliminated.””

“This transfer will significantly enhance efficiency, accountability, uniformity, and strategic impact in delivering foreign assistance programs — allowing our nation and President to speak with one voice in foreign affairs,” the memo stated. “It will also obviate the need for USAID to continue operating as an independent establishment.”

For taxpayers tired of seeing their hard-earned dollars funneled into endless foreign sinkholes, the USAID shutdown is a win worth celebrating. With DOGE swinging the axe, the era of unchecked government spending just took a serious hit—and America’s wallets are better for it.