The Trump administration has announced plans to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), cutting nearly all remaining staff despite a major earthquake devastating Myanmar and Thailand. USAID, a vital player in global humanitarian relief for over 60 years, will see its missions worldwide closed, with its functions absorbed into the State Department.
An internal memo reviewed by Reuters revealed that thousands of USAID and Foreign Service officers will be terminated by July or September, with no automatic transfer to the State Department. The decision was communicated by acting deputy administrator Jeremy Lewin, a member of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which led earlier cuts to the agency.
A U.S. appeals court on Friday allowed the cuts to proceed, despite a lower court ruling against them. The move comes after Trump froze all foreign aid in January and accused USAID of being run by "radical left lunatics," citing unproven fraud claims discovered by Musk.
Humanitarian leaders and lawmakers condemned the closure. Representative Gregory Meeks called it illegal and a withdrawal from U.S. global leadership. Aid experts warned the move cripples America’s ability to respond to disasters, such as the recent earthquake that killed scores in Myanmar and Thailand.
Despite Trump’s promise to assist Myanmar, former USAID officials say the agency’s response capacity has been “kneecapped,” leaving room for rival nations like China and Russia to take the lead. Contracts with search and rescue teams were reactivated, but critical funding for logistics and emergency aid groups remains frozen.
As of March 21, 3,848 USAID personnel were already on paid administrative leave. Former USAID disaster chief Sarah Charles called the situation “devastating,” noting more than 80% of the agency’s programs have been canceled.