President Trump’s budget plan suggests cutting back on a variety of development and international affairs agencies, going beyond just the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Included in these cuts are the complete elimination of the U.S. Global Media Agency, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the National Endowment for Democracy, and two organizations that focus on development in Latin America and Africa.
Additionally, funding for the UN Peacekeeping Mission, which amounts to roughly $1.6 billion, along with “Food for Peace” initiatives, has been terminated.
The budget also proposes merging USAID with the State Department, a move announced last month, which might lead to job layoffs.
While many cuts were made across various sectors, the bulk falls under state and international program funding. This area of expenditure has plummeted from $60 billion to almost $10 billion—a staggering drop of around 84%.
“This marks a significant retreat from America’s long-held commitment to alleviating human suffering and aiding communities in building prosperous futures,” notes Tom Hart, CEO of Interaction, an organization representing U.S. international nonprofits.
He further argues, “U.S. leadership exemplifies American values on the global stage and contributes to our own safety, economic, and health interests. If these proposals are put into action, many vulnerable women, children, and families will face hardship, which could ultimately diminish America’s standing in the world.”
The government cited the need to cut certain agencies to combat “weaponized corruption.”
These budget reductions follow the arrival of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff to the headquarters of several agencies.
At the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), staff described what they viewed as a hostile takeover, which resulted in the firing of security personnel and attempts to restrict access to the building.
A lawsuit filed by the agency claims that DOGE officials engaged in “literal trespassing” and removed the USIP logo from the wall, leaving the letters discarded on the ground.
Although USIP focused on advancing peace and resolving conflicts, documents from the White House labeled these initiatives as “Open Left Think Tanks.”
Moreover, funding for the U.S. African Development Foundation and the Inter-American Foundation has been eradicated, both of which had budgets around $50 million and filed lawsuits against their closures.
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which aimed to foster democracy globally, has seen its entire budget of $315 million cut. The administration has referred to the agency’s work as a “blacklist,” echoing critiques made by DOGE leader Elon Musk, who previously described it as a “scam.”
NED’s lawsuit states that it has financed over 1,300 projects in regions where basic freedoms are restricted, working towards promoting governance, human rights, and political liberty in particularly challenging environments.
U.S. media agencies, which support outlets like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, are also facing litigation aimed at protecting against the dismantling of these services.
The budget proposes to continue funding the Woodrow Wilson Center, a think tank addressing global issues and branding itself as “fierce and nonpartisan.”
All budget cuts are aimed at achieving projected savings of $3.5 billion.
“The budget outlines the elimination of several smaller agencies or federal funds, aligning with the President’s goals to streamline government, enhance accountability, eliminate waste, and cut unnecessary entities,” it states.
Furthermore, the plan cuts $555 million allocated to multilateral development banks intended to bolster economies in regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Some Republican lawmakers are working to preserve certain programs. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) have suggested moving the Food for Peace program from USAID to the USDA. They argue, “In our efforts to cut costs and boost efficiency, this program should be closer to the agricultural producers who cultivate these crops, which could create new market opportunities for farmers.”
