Agency Faces Uncertain Future Amid Downsizing and Potential Shift to State Department

The Uncertain Future of USAID under the Trump Administration

The future of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the agency responsible for America's humanitarian assistance operations overseas, remains uncertain just one week after the Trump administration initiated a near-total freeze of U.S. foreign aid.

Trump administration officials are actively discussing placing USAID under the authority of the State Department, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. This move would further cripple an agency already brought to its knees by recent actions.

In the past week, hundreds of USAID employees and contractors have been fired or furloughed, almost 60 senior career leaders have been sidelined, and U.S. foreign missions have been brought to a standstill. Thousands of related jobs are also under threat of furlough or firing in the coming days.

Prominent signs in the front lobby of the agency's Washington headquarters have been removed, leaving those still employed to brace for the possibility of USAID shutting down altogether.

Democratic lawmakers have expressed strong opposition to the proposed changes, arguing that USAID should remain an independent agency outside of the State Department. They also point out that any proposal to modify the agency's structure would require an Act of Congress.

Despite a rapid-fire social media storm naming dozens of secretaries, ambassadors, special envoys, and senior advisors before taking office, President Trump has yet to nominate a leader for USAID.

The downsizing of the agency has largely been directed by Pete Marocco, who was installed by the Trump administration as the head of the State Department's Office of Bureau of Foreign Assistance. Marocco previously held several national security positions under the Trump administration, including at USAID, where his attempts to consolidate power and slash funding drove officials to write a dissent memo that ultimately pushed him out of office.

Critics of the Trump administration's decision to pause U.S. foreign aid and dramatically downsize USAID argue that the cuts ultimately benefit U.S. adversaries. They warn that the move will hurt efforts to deliver aid and grow China's world standing at the expense of the United States.

The State Department and USAID did not respond to requests for comment.

Project 2025, a report initiated by the Heritage Foundation and dozens of other Trump-aligned conservative organizations, foreshadowed the actions that Marocco has taken, including the decision to place almost 60 USAID policy-making career civil servants and foreign service officers on administrative leave. The document called for "pilot-testing" the transformation of those civil servant positions into political appointee roles and outlined a broader effort to consolidate USAID.