WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was officially shut down in July 2025. This action followed a stop work order on all U.S. foreign assistance issued by the Trump administration in the days following January 20, 2025.

USAID employed approximately 15,000 people globally prior to its closure, and most of its programs were terminated. Only a small number of former USAID staff subsequently joined the State Department. Samantha Power, the last confirmed administrator of USAID, departed the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2025.

Power, who served four years as USAID administrator under the Biden administration, expressed her reaction to the agency's dismantling in an interview with NPR. "I was as shocked as I was horrified," Power said. "I could not believe in the first instance that any human would suspend assistance, particularly life-saving assistance, without taking into account the human consequences or trying to do so in a manner that would allow people to make adjustments."

Power appealed to Republicans in Congress to restart USAID programs or grant waivers. Republicans in Congress initially collaborated with Power behind the scenes to try to restart programs.

Following the shutdown, funding for anti-corruption civil society organizations was withdrawn by USAID and the State Department. Trump administration officials maintain that they are now more nimble and efficient at disaster response than when USAID was active. The U.S. State Department responded to a natural disaster in Myanmar and dedicated resources to the response for an earthquake in Venezuela. The Trump administration is also increasing government-to-government assistance, a strategy Power launched during her tenure.