President Donald Trump has shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), cutting $268 million in funding previously allocated to 6,200 journalists and 707 media organizations. The decision will affect programs in over 30 countries, which focused on promoting globalism and Agenda 2030 goals.
Controversial Spending Under Biden
During the Biden administration, USAID funds were used for initiatives such as training journalists in gender-neutral language in Sri Lanka ($7.9M), producing an inclusivity-focused Sesame Street in Iraq ($20M), and funding LGBT activism in Guatemala ($2M). Other projects included promoting feminist digital spaces and financing BBC’s diversity efforts in Libya.
Beyond ideological projects, USAID funds allegedly ended up in unintended hands. Reports indicate that $10 million in food aid funded by USAID reached a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda, raising concerns about oversight and accountability in foreign aid distribution.
A New Direction for U.S. Aid
With USAID dismantled, many of these programs are set to disappear. Supporters argue this move prevents wasteful spending, while critics warn it weakens global media development and progressive initiatives. The decision underscores the stark contrast in foreign aid priorities between the Trump and Biden administrations.