The United States is closing 83 percent of USAID programmes that do not meet Washington’s interests. The announcement was made by the head of the US State Department Marco Rubio on Monday.

Rubio said that the “5200 contracts that are now canceled 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.”

“In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18 percent of programs we are keeping (approximately 1,000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department,” he added.

The decision came after a six week review of the programs, Rubio set out, citing their funding as antithetical to the core interests of the United States:

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“After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID.

The 5200 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.

In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping (approximately 1000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department.

Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform.”

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In February this year, President Donald Trump’s administration announced that it was cutting off more than 90 percent of foreign aid provided through USAID. According to media reports, a total of about 5,800 grants were canceled, and more than 500 USAID grants were frozen.

Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court rejected the authorities’ request to suspend the payment of about $2 billion to foreign organizations through USAID for already completed projects.