USAID (United States Agency for International Development)

Organization

A U.S. government agency established by JFK, tasked with providing foreign aid, currently under intense scrutiny by DOGE for alleged wasteful spending and questionable allocations to various groups and media organizations.


entitydetail.created_at

7/26/2025, 4:00:25 AM

entitydetail.last_updated

8/4/2025, 7:26:19 AM

entitydetail.research_retrieved

8/4/2025, 7:26:19 AM

Summary

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to provide foreign aid, disaster relief, and economic development, serving as a tool of soft power during the Cold War. Reorganized as an independent agency in 1998, USAID historically disbursed approximately $23 billion annually from 2001 to 2024, operating in over 100 countries across diverse sectors like education, global health, environmental protection, and democratic governance, and is credited with preventing millions of deaths through its funding. However, in the first half of 2025, the Trump administration terminated 83% of USAID's projects, integrating its programs into the State Department and initiating USAID's closure, despite the agency's legal status as an independent government entity that can only be abolished by an act of Congress. This defunding has raised concerns about a potential increase in preventable deaths. Separately, USAID has been highlighted by the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) initiative under a potential Trump 2.0 presidency as an example of federal spending under scrutiny, particularly regarding its funding of media outlets.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Type

    Independent agency of the U.S. government

  • Motto

    From the American people

  • Formed

    1961

  • Acronym

    USAID

  • Full Name

    United States Agency for International Development

  • Key Sectors

    Education, Global Health, Environmental Protection, Democratic Governance, Disaster Relief, Economic Development

  • Headquarters

    Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C., U.S.

  • Employees (FY 2023)

    Over 10,000

  • Countries of Operation

    Over 100

  • Legal Abolition Requirement

    Act of Congress

  • Historical Impact (2001-2021)

    Estimated 91.8 million deaths prevented, including 30.4 million children under five

  • Annual Appropriations (FY 2023)

    $40 billion (USAID-managed funds)

  • Reorganized as Independent Agency

    1998

  • Average Annual Disbursements (2001-2024)

    $23 billion

Timeline
  • USAID was established by President John F. Kennedy to provide foreign aid, disaster relief, and economic development, serving as a tool of soft power during the Cold War. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1961

  • USAID was reorganized by Congress as an independent agency. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1998

  • USAID had average annual disbursements of about $23 billion. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2001-2024

  • An estimated 91.8 million deaths, including 30.4 million among children younger than five years old, were likely prevented by USAID funding. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2001-2021

  • All USAID direct hire personnel (except designated essential personnel) were placed on administrative leave globally, and a Reduction-in-Force affecting approximately 1,600 U.S.-based personnel was initiated. (Source: Web Search (usaid.gov))

    2025-02-23

  • The Trump administration terminated 83% of USAID's projects. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2025-XX-XX

  • The Trump administration announced that USAID programs had been integrated into the State Department, which now administers U.S. foreign assistance, with USAID in the process of closing. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2025-07

  • Budget requests, the Office of Inspector General, and court filings continued to acknowledge USAID’s existence, as only an act of Congress can abolish it. (Source: Wikipedia)

    Beyond 2025-07

  • The defunding of USAID could result in at least 14 million preventable deaths, including 4.5 million children under five. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2030

United States Agency for International Development

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was created to provide foreign aid, disaster relief, and economic development. Established in 1961 during the Cold War by President John F. Kennedy, USAID was designed to counter the Soviet Union through the use of soft power across the world. In 1998, USAID was reorganized by Congress as an independent agency. With average annual disbursements of about $23 billion from 2001 to 2024, USAID had missions in over 100 countries, in areas as diverse as education, global health, environmental protection, and democratic governance. An estimated 91.8 million deaths, including 30.4 million among children younger than five years old, were likely prevented by USAID funding between 2001 and 2021. In the first half of 2025, the Trump administration terminated 83% of USAID's projects. Before this, USAID was the world's largest foreign aid agency. In July 2025, the administration announced that USAID programs had been integrated into the State Department, which now administers U.S. foreign assistance, with USAID in the process of closing. Nonetheless, budget requests, the Office of Inspector General, and court filings have continued to acknowledge USAID’s existence beyond that date. As an independent agency of the U.S. government, only an act of Congress can abolish USAID, despite it being effectively defunct. The defunding of USAID could result in at least 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million children under five.

Web Search Results
  • United States Agency for International Development - Wikipedia

    USAID is organized around country development programs managed by resident USAID offices in developing countries ("USAID missions"), supported by USAID's global headquarters in Washington, D.C.( ### Country development programs [edit] [...] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia US civilian foreign aid agency United States Agency for International DevelopmentImage 4 Seal of USAID Image 5 Flag of USAID Image 6 Wordmark of USAID Agency overview Formed 1961 Preceding agency International Cooperation Administration HeadquartersRonald Reagan Building [...] Washington, D.C., U.S. Motto"From the American people" Employees Over 10,000 (FY 2023)( Annual budget$40 billion in appropriations (FY 2023 USAID-managed funds) Websiteusaid.gov Footnotes ( The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is( an independent agency of the United States government that was responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance from 1961 to 2025.

  • United States Agency for International Development

    USAID serves as the focal point within the Government for economic matters affecting U.S. relations with developing countries. It administers international economic and humanitarian assistance programs. The Administrator is under the direct authority and foreign policy guidance of the Secretary of State. The Agency posts its organizational chart online. The chart includes independent offices and central, functional, and geographic bureaus. ### ACTIVITIES [...] The above list of key personnel was updated 6–2021. _The United States Agency for International Development seeks to eradicate extreme global poverty and enables resilient and democratic societies to realize their potential._ ### ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent Federal agency established by 22 U.S.C. 6563. [...] United States Agency for International Development ================================================== 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20523 202-712-0000

  • U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) | Grants.gov

    USAID partners to end extreme poverty and to promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity. Poverty is multi-dimensional, requiring an approach to address hunger and food insecurity, illiteracy and innumeracy, ill-health, dis-empowerment, marginalization, and vulnerability. USAID's Feed the Future, Global Health, Global Climate Change, and Power Africa initiatives target symptoms of and pathways out of poverty. USAID's work on education is already reaching [...] nations. [...] An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( LockLocked padlock icon) or means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Grants.gov Search # U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) ## Mission and Vision

  • U.S. Agency for International Development

    U.S. Agency for International Development =============== Image 1: U.S. Agency for International Development Notification of Administrative Leave ==================================== As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally. [...] Concurrently, USAID is beginning to implement a Reduction-in-Force that will affect approximately 1,600 USAID personnel with duty stations in the United States. Individuals that are impacted will receive specific notifications on February 23, 2025, with further instructions and information about their benefits and rights. Designated essential personnel who are expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership February 23, 2025, by 5 p.m. EST. [...] Additional guidance is forthcoming, and all future updates/notices will continue to be communicated through official USAID channels and posted on USAID.gov for those without access to USAID systems. USAID Office of Inspector General

  • U.S. Foreign Aid Freeze & Dissolution of USAID: Timeline of Events

    Development (USAID), which implements most U.S. global health programs, and reorganize the Department of State. It will be updated as needed to reflect additional developments. [...] Topics Affordable Care Act COVID-19 Global Health Policy Health Costs Health Information and Trust HIV/AIDS Medicaid Medicare Mental Health Patient and Consumer Protections Private Insurance Racial Equity and Health Policy Uninsured Women’s Health Policy [...] Follow Us Email Alerts Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Threads X RSS Feeds YouTube Image 7: KFF © 2025 KFF Powered by WordPress VIP []( Citations and Reprints Privacy Policy KFF Headquarters: 185 Berry St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Phone 650-854-9400 Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270