US President Donald Trump called for the closure of USAID and said that the corruption is at levels rarely seen before. “USAID is driving the radical left crazy, and there is nothing they can do about it because the way in which the money has been spent is totally unexplainable. The corruption is at levels rarely seen before. Close it down,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Trump following his second term inauguration has launched a comprehensive effort to substantially reduce or eliminate various government institutions.The United States Agency for International Development, which manages American humanitarian assistance globally, has become the primary target of this restructuring initiative.The administration has implemented measures including recalling overseas personnel and suspending international aid disbursements.A New York Times report on Thursday revealed plans to drastically reduce USAID’s workforce from 10,000 to approximately 300 employees.Trade unions are contesting the legitimacy of these actions, including Musk’s government-wide voluntary separation proposals.Congressional Democrats maintain that presidential authority to dissolve government agencies without legislative approval would violate constitutional principles. Additionally, Trump has declared his intention to eliminate the Department of Education.The US government currently designates approximately £58 billion towards international aid programmes.Despite being the world’s largest aid contributor, US foreign assistance has consistently remained between 0.7 to 1.4 per cent of total government expenditure over the past 25 years, as reported by the Pew Research Center.USAID operates healthcare and emergency response initiatives across approximately 120 nations, including the world’s most impoverished regions.The organisation serves as a crucial diplomatic tool for the United States in its competition for global influence against rivals, including China, where Musk maintains significant commercial operations.Conservative Republicans and libertarians have historically questioned USAID’s necessity and criticised what they perceive as unnecessary overseas spending.These objections have intensified since Trump’s return, with his administration targeting USAID staff and making unsubstantiated claims about widespread fraud within the agency.
‘Close it down’: Trump calls for closure of USAID, says ‘corruption is at levels rarely seen before’
