The US State Department says it will cut overseas development and aid programs by $54 billion.
The US has dramatically cut budgets for its overseas development and aid programs, with multi-year contracts falling by 92% or $54 billion, the State Department said.
After taking office on January 20th, US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order calling for a 90-day freezing of all US foreign aid, and will be reviewed by senior political leaders in order to cut spending on programs that do not align with his “America First” agenda.
This review targeted multi-year foreign aid contracts awarded by the United States Organization for International Development (USAID), and the majority were eliminated during that course.
“At the end of the process led by USAID leadership, including a trancher reviewed by the secretary personally. [Marco] A State Department spokesman said in a statement that Rubio has a $54 billion prize remaining and was identified for elimination for repeal.
This review also considered more than 9,100 grants, including foreign aid worth more than $15.9 billion.
At the end of the review, the goal was to eliminate 4,100 grants worth almost $4.4 billion, a 28% reduction.
“The removal of these common sense allows the department, along with contract and grant officers, to focus on the remaining programs, find additional efficiency, and to closely coordinate subsequent programs to the administration’s top American priorities,” a State Department spokesman said.
Programs that were not cut included food aid, life-saving medical care for diseases such as HIV and malaria, and assistance to countries such as Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Lebanon.
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