US Cuts Foreign Aid Budget by Over 90%

The US government has cut its foreign aid budget by 92% (about $54 billion), the State Department announced.

On his first day as president, Donald Trump stopped all foreign aid for 90 days. He wanted to review spending and remove programs that did not fit his “America First” policy.

As a result, most aid contracts were canceled. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) cut nearly 5,800 contracts worth $54 billion. It also removed 4,100 grants worth $4.4 billion.

Some important programs were not cut. These include food aid, medical help for diseases like HIV and malaria, and support for countries like Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Lebanon.

A judge ordered Trump to restart the aid within two days. However, the US Supreme Court later delayed this order.

Before these cuts, USAID had over 10,000 workers. After the budget cut, 1,600 workers lost their jobs, and many others were sent on leave.

Trump had promised to reduce government spending. He gave this job to billionaire Elon Musk, who now leads the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).”