The US State Department officially announced the closure of USAID.

The US State Department announced on March 28 that it was officially closing the US Agency for International Development (USAID), a move that could deal a heavy blow to the struggling foreign aid agency.

The move came hours before a federal appeals court rejected an injunction blocking billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) from dissolving USAID, according to ABC News on March 29.

"Today, the State Department and USAID notified Congress of plans to undertake a restructuring, including transferring certain USAID functions to the State Department effective July 1," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on March 28.

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"Thanks to President Donald Trump, the era of fiscal mismanagement and irresponsibility is over. We are reorienting foreign aid programs to align with what is best for America and our citizens," said Mr. Rubio.

Jeremy Lewin, a senior official at USAID, said the decision to dissolve the agency would "significantly improve the efficiency, accountability, consistency, and strategic impact of the delivery of foreign assistance programs, thereby allowing the country and President Trump to speak with one voice on foreign affairs."

Logo of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

The State Department "will seek to immediately cease the independent operations of USAID" and "assess" whether to rehire a number of officials to "take over responsibility for managing USAID's remaining strategic and lifesaving assistance programs," according to a memo seen by ABC News. "This will also eliminate the need for USAID to continue to operate as an independent entity," the memo said.

USAID programs authorized by the State Department to continue include "humanitarian assistance, global health capacity, strategic investments, and limited national security programs." "Functions that potentially overlap with the State Department's current mission will be eliminated during the restructuring," the USAID announcement added.

Experts say the decision to completely dismantle a federal agency is expected to prompt legislative scrutiny. Some observers say the effort to neutralize USAID would weaken U.S. influence abroad and have devastating consequences for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, who depend on Washington for health care, food and other basic needs.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-ngoai-giao-my-tuyen-bo-chinh-thuc-dong-cua-usaid-185250329092810202.htm