Trump administration takes control, shuts down USAID

The Trump administration says it's now in control of USAID and has shut down global programs from the previously independent humanitarian aid agency.

The Trump administration says it's now in control of USAID and has shut down global programs from the previously independent humanitarian aid agency.

The Trump administration says it is now in control of US aid, and on Monday we saw Trump testing the limits of his power, challenging congressional authority by pushing for *** shutdown of the agency. If there's fraud, these people are lunatics, and if it comes to fraud, you wouldn't have an act of Congress, and I'm not sure that you would anyway, but we just want to do the right thing. It's something that should have been done *** long time ago. Trump, alongside billionaire ally Elon Musk, moved to shut down US aid, an agency that Congress established in order to provide funds to educate, fight starvation and poverty overseas. The biggest changes coming over the last few days, including laying off or furloughing thousands of USAI employees and contractors, shutting down program. Around the world and then taking down its website, Democrats vowed to act, blasting Trump's effort as illegal and warning that the action could jeopardize global alliances and countering adversaries like China and Russia. I don't know what his purposes are, but they've got nothing to do with what has been lawfully adopted by the people of the United States of America. Through the Congress of the United States we're going to defend US aid all the way. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he is now the acting administrator of US aid, which by the way, was previously an independent government agency, although the shutdown did happen while Rubio was traveling outside of the country. At the White House, I'm Amy Lou.

Trump administration takes control, shuts down USAID

The Trump administration says it's now in control of USAID and has shut down global programs from the previously independent humanitarian aid agency.

Testing the limits of his executive power Monday, President Donald Trump challenged Congress' authority with a push to shut down USAID.Congress previously established the independent government agency that provides funding to educate, fight starvation and poverty overseas. USAID sends assistance to 120 countries and was created during the Kennedy administration to counter authoritarian influence.The biggest changes to the agency took place over the last few days, leading to layoffs and furloughs of thousands of USAID employees and contractors, the shutdown of programs around the world and the USAID website being taken down."We just want to do the right thing. It's something that should have been done a long time ago," Trump said before reporters at the White House Monday.But the move from Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk has raised concerns.Democrats on Monday vowed to act, blasting Trump's effort as illegal and warning that the action could jeopardize global alliances and efforts to counter adversaries like China and Russia."I don't know what his purposes are, but they've got nothing to do with what has been lawfully adopted by the people of the United States of America through the Congress of the United States," Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland said in a speech outside of the agency's headquarters Monday. "We're going to defend USAID all the way."Now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he is the acting administrator of USAID, despite being a previously independent government agency. The move to shut down the agency happened while Rubio was traveling outside of the U.S.Foreign assistance, like that from USAID, accounts for less than 1% of the federal budget.

WASHINGTON —

Testing the limits of his executive power Monday, President Donald Trump challenged Congress' authority with a push to shut down USAID.

Congress previously established the independent government agency that provides funding to educate, fight starvation and poverty overseas. USAID sends assistance to 120 countries and was created during the Kennedy administration to counter authoritarian influence.

The biggest changes to the agency took place over the last few days, leading to layoffs and furloughs of thousands of USAID employees and contractors, the shutdown of programs around the world and the USAID website being taken down.

"We just want to do the right thing. It's something that should have been done a long time ago," Trump said before reporters at the White House Monday.

But the move from Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk has raised concerns.

Democrats on Monday vowed to act, blasting Trump's effort as illegal and warning that the action could jeopardize global alliances and efforts to counter adversaries like China and Russia.

"I don't know what his [Musk's] purposes are, but they've got nothing to do with what has been lawfully adopted by the people of the United States of America through the Congress of the United States," Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland said in a speech outside of the agency's headquarters Monday. "We're going to defend USAID all the way."

Now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he is the acting administrator of USAID, despite being a previously independent government agency. The move to shut down the agency happened while Rubio was traveling outside of the U.S.

Foreign assistance, like that from USAID, accounts for less than 1% of the federal budget.

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