Trump administration eliminating 90 percent of USAID foreign aid contracts

President Trump’s administration is eliminating more than 90 percent of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) foreign contracts, along with $60 billion in global aid worldwide, multiple outlets reported.

“At the conclusion of a process led by USAID leadership, including tranches personally reviewed by Secretary [Marco] Rubio, nearly 5,800 awards with $54 billion in value remaining were identified for elimination as part of the America First agenda — a 92 percent reduction,” a State Department spokesperson told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in a statement.

President Trump signed an executive order last month that ordered a freeze of all U.S. foreign aid to allow his administration to perform an overview of programs and determine which ones could be gutted if they are not aligned with his “America First” foreign policy vision. 

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ordered USAID — which Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency is seemingly working to dismantle — and the State Department to continue funding for foreign aid grants and contracts by the end of day Wednesday. 

But the Supreme Court issued a ruling late Wednesday briefly pausing the order that would have prompted the release of almost $2 billion in foreign assistance payments.

Administration officials reviewed more than 9,100 grants valued at more than $15.9 billion related to foreign aid, and some 4,100 grants were selected to be cut. 

“These commonsense eliminations will allow the bureaus, along with their contracting and grants officers, to focus on remaining programs, find additional efficiencies and tailor subsequent programs more closely to the Administration’s America First priorities,” the State Department’s spokesperson added.

Some of the programs that were not eliminated include support for Cuba, Venezuela, Lebanon and Haiti, food assistance and life-saving medical care for those suffering from malaria and HIV, according to the spokesperson. 

An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press said officials were “clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift.” 

The majority of USAID’s staff has been placed on administrative leave and prevented from using their internal systems or accessing their offices.