US President Donald Trump’s administration is terminating more than 90% of USAID contracts worth $60 billion, cutting international aid. About this informs CNN.
The administration canceled a total of nearly 5,800 USAID grants, while leaving more than 500 in place. The contracts that did not fall under the reduction have a total value of about $57 billion. In addition to USAID grants, the government also reviewed the financing of other state programs. Approximately 4,100 grants have been canceled and 2,700 have been maintained, while 297 contracts are under review.
A large-scale reduction in funding dealt a serious blow to the activities of non-profit organizations and contractors implementing international development projects. Many programs around the world have been frozen due to funding cuts. These measures became part of a broader policy of the Trump administration, within which a significant number of USAID employees were previously placed on leave or fired.
The cut in aid came amid a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to end funding for foreign programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that decisions regarding each grant were made individually, taking into account the program’s relevance to the national interests of the United States.
