US Cuts Foreign Aid Budget by Over 90%: The U.S. government has cut its foreign aid budget by 92% (about $54 billion), the State Department announced.
On his first day as president, Donald Trump halted all foreign aid for 90 days. He wanted to review spending and eliminate programs that did not fit his “America First” policy.
As a result, most aid contracts were canceled. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) cut nearly 5,800 contracts worth $54 billion. It also eliminated 4,100 grants worth $4.4 billion.
Some important programs have not been cut. These include food aid, medical aid for diseases like HIV and malaria, and assistance to countries like Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Lebanon.
A judge ordered Trump to restore the aid within two days. But the U.S. Supreme Court later delayed that order.
Before the cuts, USAID had more than 10,000 employees. After the budget cut, 1,600 workers lost their jobs and many others were furloughed.
Trump had promised to cut government spending. He gave the job to billionaire Elon Musk, who now heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
