AP Reports: 90% Reduction in USAID Contracts
The White House is reportedly preparing to put a stop to $60 billion in foreign assistance. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The White House is reportedly set to suspend $60 billion in foreign assistance, with plans to cut more than 90% of contracts from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), according to an Associated Press report on Thursday. This information is based on an internal memo and documents submitted in a federal lawsuit challenging the administration's plans.
Upon taking office, President Donald Trump suspended most US foreign assistance while reviewing which programs aligned with the administration’s “America first” goals. USAID, the government’s primary channel for funding international political projects, has seen tens of billions of dollars in approved grants put on hold as a result of this review process.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits that previously received support from the agency have filed numerous lawsuits against Trump and his administration, seeking the release of funds that had already been allocated.
On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court intervened in one of these cases and temporarily stopped a ruling that mandated the government to release billions in grants and contracts by midnight, as reported by the AP.
According to the AP, the administration aims to eliminate 90% of USAID contracts, amounting to approximately $54 billion. Additionally, nearly half of the State Department’s foreign aid grants, totaling around $4.4 billion, are reportedly at risk as well.
The memo indicates that officials were “clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift.” It also mentions that a further reshaping of how USAID and the State Department distribute foreign aid is on the horizon, aimed at using taxpayer dollars efficiently to promote American interests.
Both Trump and his newly appointed government efficiency czar, Elon Musk, have accused USAID of misusing taxpayer funds and engaging in rampant corruption.
These planned cuts are part of a wider effort by the administration and Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency to tackle escalating government spending.
In related news, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) announced on Wednesday that its government funding had also been frozen. The NED, which is officially a nonprofit funded by the US State Department to support pro-democracy initiatives abroad, has faced numerous accusations over the years of functioning as a proxy for the CIA in efforts to overthrow foreign governments.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Upon taking office, President Donald Trump suspended most US foreign assistance while reviewing which programs aligned with the administration’s “America first” goals. USAID, the government’s primary channel for funding international political projects, has seen tens of billions of dollars in approved grants put on hold as a result of this review process.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits that previously received support from the agency have filed numerous lawsuits against Trump and his administration, seeking the release of funds that had already been allocated.
On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court intervened in one of these cases and temporarily stopped a ruling that mandated the government to release billions in grants and contracts by midnight, as reported by the AP.
According to the AP, the administration aims to eliminate 90% of USAID contracts, amounting to approximately $54 billion. Additionally, nearly half of the State Department’s foreign aid grants, totaling around $4.4 billion, are reportedly at risk as well.
The memo indicates that officials were “clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift.” It also mentions that a further reshaping of how USAID and the State Department distribute foreign aid is on the horizon, aimed at using taxpayer dollars efficiently to promote American interests.
Both Trump and his newly appointed government efficiency czar, Elon Musk, have accused USAID of misusing taxpayer funds and engaging in rampant corruption.
These planned cuts are part of a wider effort by the administration and Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency to tackle escalating government spending.
In related news, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) announced on Wednesday that its government funding had also been frozen. The NED, which is officially a nonprofit funded by the US State Department to support pro-democracy initiatives abroad, has faced numerous accusations over the years of functioning as a proxy for the CIA in efforts to overthrow foreign governments.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
