Trump and Musk Halt USAID Operations, Freezing U.S. Foreign Aid

The decision to suspend development assistance and consider dismantling USAID disrupts critical global humanitarian programs and raises concerns about U.S. influence abroad.

President Trump and Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency, have suspended most U.S. foreign aid for 90 days to review expenditures, with exceptions for certain life-saving programs.
USAID, the U.S. agency responsible for international development since 1961, has seen its operations largely halted, with its website and social media accounts taken offline and hundreds of staff dismissed or furloughed.
The freeze has immediate global repercussions, affecting health, food, and humanitarian programs in countries like Nepal, Syria, and Botswana, and disrupting efforts such as HIV treatment and mine clearance in conflict zones.
Critics, including U.S. lawmakers and international observers, warn that the move undermines America's global leadership and could create opportunities for countries like China to expand their influence.
Elon Musk has publicly criticized USAID as inefficient and ideologically driven, while the Trump administration frames the review as part of its 'America First' policy to prioritize domestic interests.