JUST IN: President Trump fires 97% of USAID staff.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decision to cut the majority of USAID staff, reducing the agency's workforce from 14,000 to 294, reflects a significant restructuring effort within the U.S. foreign aid framework, potentially aiming to streamline operations or redirect focus under new political priorities. This move comes in the wake of Rubio's recent announcement that he is now running USAID, as reported by The New York Times, indicating a consolidation of control over foreign aid initiatives directly under the State Department, which might affect the independence and operational autonomy USAID has traditionally enjoyed. The drastic reduction in staff could be seen in the context of broader political and administrative changes, where agencies like USAID are often subject to shifts in policy direction, funding priorities, and efficiency drives by incoming administrations or policy shifts within existing ones.

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