The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Monday, February 3, 2025, that it is reassessing its mission due to growing concerns that a significant portion of its funding has not been aligned with core US national interests.
In a statement, USAID emphasized that it had strayed from its original purpose of responsibly advancing American interests abroad.
In response to these concerns, President Donald J. Trump has appointed Secretary Marco Rubio as Acting Administrator of USAID.
This decision comes amid increasing worries that USAID’s operations are disconnected from the broader national priorities of the United States.
Secretary Rubio has informed Congress that a thorough review of USAID’s foreign assistance activities is underway, intending to realign the agency’s efforts with the “America First” foreign policy agenda promoted by the Trump administration.
The review will assess the agency’s global impact and explore potential reorganizations to ensure that US taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
USAID has been tasked with advancing American values through international development projects for years.
However, critics argue that much of the agency’s funding has not sufficiently prioritized the United States’ strategic objectives, leading to wasteful spending.
The ongoing review is expected to focus on ensuring that the agency’s efforts align with the broader goals of the US government.
“As we evaluate USAID and ensure it is in alignment with an America First agenda and the efforts of the State Department, we will continue to protect the American people’s interests and ensure their tax dollars are not wasted,” Secretary Rubio stated in the release.
One of the significant consequences of this review has been the suspension of all USAID activities for ninety days to allow for a comprehensive evaluation.
Among the countries affected by this decision is Liberia, which currently has 232 ongoing USAID projects.
This freeze has raised concerns about the impact on Liberia’s economy, as US aid has played a significant role in funding development projects nationwide.
Since 2003, US aid to Liberia has totaled approximately US$2.4 billion, yet challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity persist.
In May 2020, the United States signed a US$640 million aid package to fund development projects in Liberia over five years.
To date, the US has committed US$489.9 million out of this package, with US$150 million allocated for 2024-2025 to fund ongoing USAID projects in key sectors such as health (US$61 million), education (US$26 million), governance (US$17 million), agriculture (US$11 million), and humanitarian assistance (US$3 million).
The freeze on USAID projects has left many Liberians wondering how the government, led by President Joseph Boakai, will manage the gap in funding and ensure that critical development initiatives continue without US support.
As the review process moves forward, the Trump administration’s stance on foreign aid remains clear: to ensure that US tax dollars are used effectively to serve the national interests of the United States while reducing redundancy and inefficiency in international assistance programs.
