USAID shuts down after 60 years of operation; foreign aid now 'limited and targeted'

The US Agency for International Development has officially ceased to exist - more than 60 years after it was founded. Its remaining functions have been transferred to the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says foreign assistance will now be limited and targeted. President Donald Trump began dismantling the agency soon after taking office in January, as part of his plan to reduce government spending. Thousands of staff were fired and humanitarian aid to some of the world's most vulnerable populations was withdrawn. Dean Karlan is the former Chief Economist at USAID. He says misunderstandings have made the organisation a target for cost-cutters. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://x.com/ajenglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #UnitedStates #US #DonaldTrump #USAID #Politics #MarcoRubio #USForeignPolicy #TrumpAdministration #HumanitarianAid #StateDepartment #AlJazeeraEnglish