The Trump administration has announced the complete shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), eliminating nearly all remaining jobs at the agency. This move comes despite President Donald Trump’s assurance that the U.S. will still provide aid to Myanmar following a devastating earthquake.
Mass Layoffs at USAID Spark Concern
On Friday, the administration informed Congress of its decision to terminate USAID’s operations, effectively dissolving the agency that has played a vital role in global humanitarian aid for over six decades. Thousands of USAID staff and Foreign Service officers received internal memos notifying them of their impending job losses. According to the memo, only positions mandated by law would remain until July or September, at which point they, too, would be eliminated.
Humanitarian aid experts and global organizations have expressed alarm at the decision, warning that it will significantly impact disaster response efforts worldwide. USAID has been at the forefront of providing emergency relief in crisis situations, including natural disasters like the recent earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand.
State Department Takes Over Humanitarian Aid
The Trump administration plans to transfer USAID’s responsibilities to the State Department, claiming it will oversee all remaining life-saving and strategic aid programs. However, USAID employees will not be automatically absorbed into the department. Instead, a separate and independent hiring process will take place, leaving many skilled professionals without jobs.
Jeremy Lewin, USAID’s acting deputy administrator and a key figure in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Elon Musk, announced the decision to the staff. Musk and DOGE had already frozen USAID’s payments and email systems, placing thousands of employees on administrative leave in the months leading up to the final closure.
Trump Alleges Fraud at USAID Without Evidence
Trump has repeatedly claimed that USAID was mismanaged and plagued by fraud, though no substantial evidence has been presented. His administration initiated a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid, leading to significant funding cuts. In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the move, arguing that USAID had “strayed from its original mission” and that the U.S. needed to realign foreign aid with national interests.
Impact on Disaster Relief and Global Influence
The shutdown of USAID has raised concerns that U.S. rivals, including China and Russia, will step in to fill the humanitarian gap left by the agency’s absence. Former USAID official Sarah Charles warned that the move had severely crippled America’s disaster response capabilities, stating that search and rescue teams from Los Angeles and Virginia had been reinstated, but logistical contracts for their transport remained suspended.
Meanwhile, humanitarian groups that typically provide emergency aid—such as medical support, water, and sanitation—have suffered major funding cuts, leaving them unable to respond effectively to crises.
Despite these setbacks, Trump reassured Myanmar officials that the U.S. would still provide assistance following the earthquake. However, it remains unclear how this aid will be delivered without USAID’s coordination.
With more than 80% of USAID programs already canceled, experts fear that the U.S. is rapidly withdrawing from its longstanding role as a global humanitarian leader. As a result, nations in crisis may increasingly turn to China, Russia, and other emerging powers for aid and support.
