The US is canceling 83% of USAID programs as part of Trump's cost-cutting agenda, sparking concerns over global humanitarian impact.

According to AFP, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the United States is cancelling 83% of programs at USAID as part of the Trump administration's effort to cut spending not aligned with its "America First" agenda.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) provides humanitarian aid worldwide, including health and emergency programs in approximately 120 countries. Critics warn that reducing its operations will have severe consequences for millions of people.

"After a six-week review, we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID," Rubio stated on social media platform X. "The 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States."

President Donald Trump, who has previously called for shutting down the humanitarian agency, signed an executive order in January mandating a freeze on all US foreign aid to allow time for a review of overseas expenditures.

Rubio explained that the remaining 1,000 programs would be managed by the State Department, dealing a seemingly final blow to USAID. Since January, most of the agency’s employees have been either placed on leave or dismissed.

On Monday, Rubio also expressed gratitude to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, which is spearheading efforts to cut federal spending and reduce government jobs.

Musk, despite reported criticism from Rubio regarding his aggressive cost-cutting measures, responded on X, calling the USAID cuts "tough, but necessary."

Last month, the State Department had announced plans to eliminate 92% of USAID contracts, identifying 5,800 grants for cancellation.

Trump and his allies have argued that foreign aid is wasteful and does not benefit US interests. However, aid organizations counter that much of this assistance contributes to American interests by promoting global stability and public health.