The Trump administration announced on Friday its plan to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of efforts to reduce foreign aid spending.
The Department of State and USAID informed Congress of their intention to reorganize the agency, a move that has sparked significant criticism.
President Donald Trump signaled these changes in January by signing an executive order that froze U.S. foreign aid for 90 days.
Since then, the administration has sought to dismantle USAID by eliminating 5,800 of the agency’s 6,200 multi-year contract awards, resulting in a $54 billion cut.
Administration officials have also discussed placing USAID under the authority of the State Department, raising concerns about the future of the agency.
The proposed cuts are expected to impact regions like the Middle East and North Africa.