US President Donald Trump has significantly changed the United States’ foreign policy. One of the major changes is cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). It includes the elimination of 83% of its programs after a six-week complete review. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, approximately 5200 contracts were canceled. These contracts cost tens of billions of dollars. Some of the contracts contradict the United States’ interests and cause harm.
The State Department will review the remaining 1000 programs thoroughly, with the aim of managing these programs efficiently with Congress’s cooperation. This decision highlights a clear shift in US foreign policy. It also raised increasing concerns about impacts on the global level. Critics argue that significant changes in US foreign policy could jeopardize its relationship with its allies. It hinders vital assistance to those in need.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plays a key role in this reform and Rubio expressed his great gratitude to the department.
On January 20, 2025, after becoming the US President, Donald Trump immediately paused foreign aid. He aimed for a 90-day review of all programs that they aligned with the “America First” policy or not. This pause caused significant disruption within the US Agency for International Development (USAID), stopping many operations worldwide. It threatened important necessities and medical services. Although the administration claimed to allow exceptions for life-saving aid, many humanitarian workers reported that funding remained blocked.
This freezing aid decision by Donald Trump has caused thousands of USAID employees to be furloughed or dismissed with few chances of their return. Furthermore, many health programs faced severe consequences due to blockade aid, highlighting the urgent need for support from other nations to assist humanitarian efforts. This situation shows how change in the US political landscape affected foreign aid with serious results on global health and stability.
The US government makes significant changes such as cutting aid under the leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Billionaire Elon Musk leads this department as an advisor. He has full cooperation with the US to reduce spending and restructuring agencies.
Recently Rubio stated, “ Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform.” According to him, the government has become more efficient due to this long-overdue change.
In this statement, Elon Musk responded that it was very difficult to cut US aid but necessary. He said that the State Department always manages some important functions of USAID, which handles foreign aid.
This reform shows the big change in US foreign policy with concerns that this decision would impact the US relationship with its allies. At the same time, many see it as a cost-cutting success, while others fear its long-term impact.
During a Cabinet meeting, tensions escalated as President Trump claimed that his Cabinet members, not Elon Musk, were responsible for staffing decisions. Musk criticized Secretary of State Marco Rubio for not making sufficient staff cuts, claiming that he hadn’t fired anyone. Rubio rebutted this by highlighting that more than 1,500 employees of the State Department had accepted offers for early retirement. The disagreement intensified, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also confronting Musk about proposed layoffs of air traffic controllers for safety reasons.
After the meeting, Trump highlighted the importance of working with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency with the view that final decisions should be made by his Cabinet.
He pointed out that reductions should be made carefully, with a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet.” Trump, in a public setting, made a jovial remark about the exchange, commending Musk and Rubio for their roles in the administration and noting their positive relationship.
