Trump administration considers placing USAID under State Department control

(Patria) - The administration of Donald Trump is taking steps to place the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the control of the State Department, which would represent a significant reform of the way Washington allocates foreign aid, Reuters reports, citing two informed sources.

The National Security Council organized discussions on this topic this week, a source said.

A U.S. official confirmed that discussions about such a move have taken place but emphasized that no final decisions have been made yet.

Last week, the administration of President Donald Trump suspended U.S. foreign aid, stating it was conducting a review to ensure that aid worth tens of billions of dollars aligns with Trump's "America First" foreign policy doctrine and does not represent a waste of taxpayer money.

One source said the White House is examining the legal authorities Trump could use to issue an executive order ending USAID's independence and that he could sign such an order as early as Friday evening or Saturday.

It is unclear whether Trump has the legal authority


It is not clear whether Trump has the legal authority to bypass Congress and issue an order to merge USAID into the State Department, Reuters reports.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, citing "rumors" that Trump plans to dismantle USAID as an independent agency, posted on X that such a move would be "illegal and against our national interests."

Photographs of USAID offices reviewed by Reuters show that plaques with the agency's official seal have been removed, a sign that preparations are underway for a merger with the State Department.

A source said that officials from the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, headed by billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk, also participated in the discussions and frequently visited USAID headquarters in Washington.

The U.S. allocated $72 billion worldwide in 2023 as part of various aid programs.