The administration under President Donald Trump has officially notified Congress regarding plans to restructure the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as the Republican leader encounters constitutional hurdles concerning the agency’s ongoing dismantling.
Established by an act of Congress, USAID’s future was signaled on Friday when Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a notification indicating that the Trump administration intends to integrate the agency’s independent functions within the Department of State under executive oversight.
Rubio stated in a social media announcement, “We are realigning our foreign assistance initiatives to better serve the interests of the United States and its citizens. Our essential lifesaving programs will continue, and we will make strategic investments to enhance both our partnerships and our nation.”
However, critics have claimed that the Trump administration is overstepping its executive bounds and attempting to undermine independent agencies that do not align with its agenda.
Later in a news briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed these concerns.
She explained that department officials “have informed Congress about their intention to reorganize, which will involve realigning specific USAID functions to the department by July 1, 2025, while discontinuing the other USAID functions that do not meet administrative goals.”
Bruce also rejected any claims that the dismantling of USAID would hinder the U.S. ability to respond to international disasters, such as the recent earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand.
“We are prepared to act immediately. Thus, our capacity to fulfill those aid requests remains unaffected,” she stated.
USAID was formed under Congress’s authority via the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, while still operating under the direct influence of the Secretary of State.
Before Trump’s second term, the agency was one of the world’s largest foreign aid distributors, but its activities sharply declined following the president’s decision to freeze foreign assistance.
In just 2023, the U.S. allocated around $72 billion in foreign aid, with USAID managing about half of that total.
However, Rubio recently announced via social media that an alarming 83 percent of USAID’s contracts have been terminated.
Additional Employee Reductions at USAID
The agency has also experienced significant layoffs, a pattern that persisted on Friday.
U.S. media reported on an internal memo sent to USAID employees indicating that all positions — except those mandated by law — would be terminated. Bruce addressed the extent of these changes during her briefing.
“Any significant change will bring about disruptions,” she acknowledged, noting that the layoffs were anticipated.
“We’ve been anticipating this outcome. It has arrived. I cannot specify the number of individuals who will no longer be foreign service officers at this stage. It is unclear if it will affect every single employee.”
“This is essentially a restructuring,” she continued. “As with any restructuring, there will inevitably be disturbances from Secretary Rubio onward. We are dedicated to ensuring the safety of USAID personnel and the continued operation of the agency’s lifesaving aid programs.”
Bruce linked the layoffs to the Trump administration’s initiative to eradicate alleged “waste, fraud, and abuse,” a project spearheaded by adviser and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
In February, USAID had already seen extensive workforce reductions, with roughly 1,600 individuals laid off, and nearly all remaining staff put on leave, including those stationed overseas.
Its headquarters in Washington, D.C., was also closed, with employees allotted 15-minute windows to access the building and swiftly gather their personal items.
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “likely infringed upon the United States Constitution in multiple respects” by dismantling USAID.
Judge Theodore Chuang stated that Musk and DOGE “deprived the public’s elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to determine the fate of an agency established by Congress.”
Through a temporary injunction, Chuang commanded DOGE and Musk to halt their attempts to reduce USAID’s workforce and contracts. However, it remains unclear if this order extends to actions carried out by the secretary of state.
Yet, on Friday afternoon, a federal appeals court lifted Chuang’s injunction, permitting DOGE to proceed with its cuts.
Musk had previously declared that he was instrumental in “feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”
