Trump administration explores bringing USAID under State Department

1/2/2025 7:49

The Trump administration is considering scaling down the U.S. Agency for International Development and putting it under control of the State Department, two sources familiar with the discussions said on Friday, in what would be a significant overhaul of how Washington allocates U.S. foreign aid worldwide.



The National Security Council hosted discussions this week on the topic, a person familiar with the matter said. A U.S. official confirmed there have been discussions about such a move but said no final decisions have been made.



The Trump administration has said it is conducting a review to ensure the tens of billions of dollars worth of U.S. foreign assistance worldwide is aligned with President Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy and not a waste of taxpayer money.



One of the sources said the White House is exploring legal authorities that Trump could use to issue an executive order to end USAID's independence. It was unclear whether Trump has the power to issue such an order and bypass Congress.