Secretary of State Marco Rubio has led a major review of State Department and USAID grants, resulting in $60 billion in savings for taxpayers. The cuts targeted wasteful spending while preserving programs deemed essential to U.S. national interests.
Key Facts:
- The State Department reviewed 9,100 grants totaling $15.9 billion, eliminating 4,100 grants worth $4.4 billion.
- USAID assessed over 6,000 multi-year awards with $58 billion remaining, cutting 5,800 awards worth $54 billion.
- The review, lasting 90 days, aimed to curb unnecessary foreign aid spending.
- Critical programs, including food assistance and medical treatments for diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria, were preserved.
- The State Department will collaborate with Congress to reform how foreign aid is distributed, ensuring it benefits U.S. interests.
The Rest of The Story
Rubio’s aggressive review of State Department and USAID grants uncovered billions in what the administration deemed wasteful spending.
The internal evaluation was conducted by career Foreign Service Officers and senior political leadership, leading to a significant reduction in foreign assistance programs.
Despite widespread cuts, key humanitarian efforts, such as medical aid and food programs, remained untouched.
The department’s new approach will ensure that future foreign aid decisions align with a framework prioritizing U.S. security, economic strength, and strategic influence.
Rubio has committed to working with Congress to overhaul the nation’s approach to international assistance.
Pure fire from new acting director of USAID Marco Rubio:
"Every dollar we spend will be aligned with the national interest of the United States. USAID has a history of ignoring that and deciding that they're a global charity. These are not donor dollars, these are taxpayer… pic.twitter.com/a0aTtgoiw6
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 3, 2025
Commentary
This $60 billion cut is a long-overdue step in reining in reckless government spending.
With a staggering $36 trillion national debt and an annual deficit exceeding $2 trillion, taxpayers cannot afford to keep funding ineffective and unaccountable programs overseas.
The idea that American dollars should be handed out indiscriminately while our economy struggles with inflation, rising interest rates, and an overstretched budget is indefensible.
The State Department has long been a hub for bureaucratic bloat and misplaced priorities.
This review demonstrates that much of its spending lacks clear justification.
Cutting nearly 92 percent of USAID’s remaining multi-year awards underscores just how many grants were handed out without proper scrutiny.
The fact that the department could make such massive reductions in just 90 days raises serious questions about the oversight of past administrations.
More importantly, foreign aid should only be given when it directly advances American national security, economic interests, or diplomatic leverage.
Funding programs that do not serve these goals is a betrayal of taxpayers.
Rubio’s new filter—assessing whether spending makes the U.S. safer, stronger, or more prosperous—is a common-sense approach that should have been in place long ago.
This should only be the beginning.
The federal government is rife with waste, and every department should undergo the same level of scrutiny.
Trillions in spending need to be reassessed to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely, not squandered on ineffective foreign programs.
The Bottom Line
Rubio’s $60 billion cut to foreign aid is a major step toward eliminating waste in government spending.
While critical humanitarian programs remain intact, the review exposed how much money was flowing overseas without clear benefits to the U.S.
If this approach continues, it could set a new standard for accountability and fiscal responsibility in Washington.
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