Rubio Axes 83 Percent of USAID Contracts After Review

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has terminated 5200 USAID contracts representing 83 percent of the agencys programs following a six-week review. He announced the cuts as part of a broader effort to align foreign aid with national interests under President Trumps directive. The decision shutters decades-old initiatives sparking outrage among humanitarian groups and praise from fiscal conservatives.

The review launched shortly after Trumps inauguration targeted what Rubio called inefficient spending. He argued that too many USAID efforts failed to benefit American taxpayers or security. Programs aiding health and poverty abroad bore the brunt of the sweeping cancellations.

Rubio defended the move by pointing to redundancies between USAID and State Department functions. He has taken over as acting USAID head signaling a merger that could reshape foreign policy. Critics warn this risks ceding global influence to rivals like China at a critical time.

Humanitarian leaders lament the loss of projects that delivered medicine and food to millions. One axed program provided HIV treatment in Africa credited with saving over 20 million lives. Workers now face layoffs as contractors scramble to redirect perishable aid stuck in limbo.

Trump hailed the cuts as a win for accountability tying them to his America First agenda. He claimed the savings would bolster domestic priorities like border security and infrastructure. Estimates peg the canceled contracts at billions though exact figures remain under wraps.

Some Republicans cheer the slimming of what they see as a bloated bureaucracy. They argue aid often propped up corrupt regimes or funded ideological causes like LGBT advocacy. Democrats counter that gutting USAID weakens US soft power and moral standing worldwide.

Rubios team spared a few contracts deemed essential like emergency food aid to allies. Yet the vast scope of the purge has left embassies and aid groups reeling from the sudden halt. Many fear the fallout will hit vulnerable populations hardest in conflict zones.

The overhaul marks a sharp turn from past administrations that saw USAID as a diplomatic tool. Rubios next steps will test whether this leaner approach can still project American strength abroad. For now the focus shifts to how the US fills the void left by its retreat from global aid.