After a Six Week Review Marco Rubio Takes an Axe to USAID Contracts and Programs

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has eliminated 83% of USAID’s programs after a six-week review, calling them a misuse of taxpayer funds that failed to serve U.S. interests. The remaining programs will now be managed under the State Department.

Key Facts:

Rubio’s review led to the cancellation of 5,200 USAID contracts, cutting tens of billions in spending.
The Trump administration had already paused all foreign aid through USAID and reduced its workforce.
Only 1,000 programs (18%) will continue but under State Department oversight instead of USAID.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with Elon Musk’s leadership, played a key role in the reform.
Reports surfaced of a heated exchange between Musk and Rubio over whether enough officials had been fired.

The Rest of The Story:

USAID, long criticized for wasteful spending, is seeing the most significant downsizing in its history.

The decision follows a broader push by the Trump administration to curb foreign aid programs that do not align with U.S. national interests.

Rubio, appointed as USAID’s acting administrator, led the effort to review and restructure its operations.

While the full list of remaining programs has yet to be released, they will now fall under the State Department’s control.

Rubio credited DOGE and its staff for carrying out what he described as “overdue and historic reform.”

Secretary Marco Rubio has announced the State Department is “officially canceling 83% of the programs of USAID.”

This is 5200 contracts and tens of billions of dollars.

It’s a huge savings for America.

DOGE has done it! pic.twitter.com/eprCxA2SJr

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 10, 2025

Commentary:

Cutting USAID’s bloated budget was not just necessary—it was long overdue.

For decades, taxpayer dollars have been funneled into questionable programs that often benefited left-leaning NGOs rather than serving American interests.

These so-called “aid” initiatives frequently propped up organizations that pushed globalist policies while delivering little tangible benefit to the United States.

The scale of the waste is staggering.

Billions were poured into projects that ranged from funding dubious “democracy-building” efforts in already corrupt nations to financing climate change initiatives in foreign countries while America’s own economy struggled.

USAID had effectively become a slush fund for special interests, operating with little accountability.

Rubio’s decision to take an axe to these programs is a welcome change.

Consolidating the remaining 18% under the State Department ensures more oversight and fewer opportunities for waste.

The American people deserve to know where their money is going, and they certainly shouldn’t be subsidizing partisan NGOs abroad.

It’s also refreshing to see that DOGE, with Musk’s involvement, is holding federal agencies accountable.

While reports suggest tensions between Musk and Rubio over the pace of reforms, the reality is that these cuts mark a significant win for fiscal responsibility.

If anything, more government agencies should be scrutinized with the same intensity.

The Bottom Line:

Rubio’s bold move to eliminate 83% of USAID’s programs is a major victory for taxpayers.

For too long, USAID operated as a bloated bureaucracy, directing billions to questionable foreign projects.

Bringing the remaining programs under the State Department ensures more oversight and accountability—something the federal government desperately needs more of.