Soon after resuming power, President Donald Trump's administration made many controversial and crucial decisions from abolishing birthright citizenship to mandating two genders as the President signed a record 26 executive orders on his first day in office.
One of the most far-reaching and disruptive changes came in the form of budget cuts, notably to the U.S Agency for International Aid (USAID) which has faced significant reductions in funding as the administration announced it has terminated more than 90% of USAID's foreign assistance awards. The humanitarian aid agency has been a target of a government reorganization program led by Elon Musk, who is a close ally of Trump and heads the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DODGE).
In the first week of February, the Trump administration announced plans to keep fewer than 300 staff in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from the agency's worldwide total of more than 10,000 employees.
USAID to different countries: 2015-2024
10 countries that received the most aid from USA in the past decade.
Ukraine
34.1B
Jordan
11.7B
Afghanistan
10.6B
Syria
7.7B
South Sudan
4.8B
Ethiopia
4.6B
Somalia
4.4B
Nigeria
4.3B
Congo
4.2B
Iraq
3.5B
Data doesn't include foreign aid distributed to non-specific recipients such
as contributions to global or regional
initiatives.
Data from fiscal year 2024 is partially reported.
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Chart:
Somaiyah Hafeez
Source:
ForeignAssistance.gov
Created with
Datawrapper
As the chart above illustrates, USAID's annual global commitments have significantly changed over the last two decades. The agency has been the cornerstone of American foreign assistance, managing 61% of the more than $71 billion in foreign aid allocated in 2023, according to ForeignAssistance.gov. These substantial commitments have funded critical programs addressing health crises, food insecurity, economic development, and humanitarian emergencies worldwide.
It all started when in January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suspended U.S. foreign aid for 90 days to review programs, following an executive order by the President, causing widespread disruptions. By March, the administration completed its review, resulting in the termination of almost all USAID programs.
While more than 20 agencies help deliver US foreign aid, USAID is the main provider. The agency oversaw 61% of the more than $71 billion aid allocated in 2023, as reported by ForeignAssistance.gov.
An analysis of USAID's worldwide funding shows that the agency's priorities changed over the decade as Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. From there on till now, as per the reported figures, the agency has allotted more than $30 billion to Ukraine. This is a more than 96% increase in aid to the country. No other country has seen such a drastic increase in its aid, especially countries undergoing conflict, war or political shifts. In fact, aid to Afghanistan dropped in 2021 as U.S forces withdrew and Taliban took over the country.
Most of the aid to Ukraine was provided in the "governance" category. From 2022-2024 $28 billion dollars were funded to the country for "governance", a category that includes support for institution building, good governance and macroeconomic stability in conflict zones. This shift has also changed how the agency allocates its funding. Earlier health was the largest funded category.
The detailed breakdown in the table above illustrates how dramatically USAID's geographic priorities have evolved. Ukraine now dominates the recipient list, having displaced traditional aid recipients like Jordan, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Of particular note is the shift in funding categories: from 2022-2024, approximately $28 billion—over 90% of Ukraine's total aid package—was allocated to "governance" initiatives aimed at supporting institution building, democratic reforms, and macroeconomic stability in the conflict zone.
Experts warn that the abrupt termination of USAID programs could have cascading effects on global stability. Programs providing emergency relief, health services, food security, and education in conflict-affected regions face immediate peril. Initiatives combating infectious diseases, supporting refugee populations, and promoting sustainable development also hang in the balance.