More than 80% of programs run by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will be cancelled after six weeks of reviews, with the rest being run by the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday.
Rubio, 53, announced an overhaul from him x's personal account5,200 contracts that say “we spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that are in the core US national interest (and in some cases even hurting)” were voided.
Last month, the Trump administration alleged in court documents that 5,800 of the 6,200 perennial USAID contracts had more than 93%, and 4,100 of the 9,100 State Department subsidies had 4,100 grants, $5.84 billion.
The filing suggested that Rubio, who was appointed as USAID's representative last month, “for each award, he made a final decision regarding the individual awards and positively chose to hold or close the award.[.]”
The State Department did not immediately respond to a comment clarifying Rubio's Monday statement and a request for comment clarifying the claim in court filings.
However, the Trump administration was given a Monday deadline to comply with a federal court order to remove approximately $2 billion worth of funds to various groups who have performed the work they contracted with USAID.
Some of that frozen money was reportedly taken into account in previous estimates of the Trump administration.
Shortly after President Trump took office on January 20th, “special White House employee” Elon Musk targeted USAID, an independent agency founded in 1961 with a $40 billion budget and an annual budget alone.
“In consultation with Congress, the remaining 18% (about 1,000) of the programs we maintain are intended to be more effectively managed under the State Department,” Rubio said Monday.
“We would like to thank Doge and our hardworking staff for spending so much time achieving this late historical reform.”
Rubio's announcement comes after The New York Times reported at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday that Rubio and Musk were caught up in heated debate.
Musk reportedly accused Rubio of not firing enough employees, but the Secretary of State argued that the billionaire approach was haphazard.
After that meeting, the 78-year-old Trump announced that he was suppressing Musk's power and giving ministers and other senior officials more shaken up personnel decisions, denying allegations that the billionaire had debated with Rubio.
Rubio and Musk have since made public overtures, Includes Sunday When two men fought back against the proposal of Polish Minister Radslow Sikorsky, Warsaw suggested that if SpaceX proved unreliable after Musk yelled about his powers to cripple Ukraine's communications, it may be necessary to look for other internet providers.
On Monday, Musk backed up Rubio with the USAID announcement, saying, “Tough, it's necessary.”
“It's good to work with you,” he added to the Floridian. “An important part of USAID should have always been in the national department.”
