An internal White House memo proposes cutting budgets for the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) by almost half of fiscal year 2026. New Report From the Washington Post.
According to the Post, early proposals for the 2026 budget will be $28.4 billion for the state and USAID, or about 48% less than the $54.4 billion in the 2025 budget.
The Trump administration has moved in the coming months to formally integrate the remaining programs with the State Department.
The initial budget proposals reviewed by the post take it for granted that USAID will be fully absorbed by the State Department. Citing the memo, the Post proposes a 54% reduction in funding for humanitarian aid and a 55% reduction in global health funds.
The memo also proposes eliminating nearly 90% of funding to international organizations, but funding to the United Nations, NATO and 20 other organisations will be completely terminated according to the Post. The proposal also reportedly cuts all funding for the international peacekeeping mission.
The Post reported that a small number of organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Civil Aviation Agency, will survive reductions in targeted contributions.
Oka reached out to the White House and the State Department for comments.
The post reveals that proposals from the White House Office of Management and Budget are still for deliberation within the Trump administration. It will then be up to Congress to approve any of the recommended budget cuts.
