Overview

• The House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Homeland Security Committee held hearings on USAID's operations and foreign aid spending on February 13, 2025.
• The hearings follow scrutiny from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, over alleged waste in USAID's programs and grants.
• Republican leaders, including Rep. Brian Mast, support a proposal to place USAID under the purview of the State Department, now led by Acting Secretary Marco Rubio.
• Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation to counter the administration's efforts to reorganize or dismantle USAID.
• Key witnesses at the hearings included former USAID officials and representatives from conservative think tanks, providing testimony on foreign aid efficiency.