Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is calling for a comprehensive review of USAID spending following the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul the agency. USAID, previously independent, is being absorbed into the State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to concerns about waste, fraud, and its alignment with U.S. core interests, leading to significant program cancellations and layoffs.
Risch urges 'top to bottom' USAID spending review after waste, fraud exposed
PolicyForeignpolicyStatedeptMarco-rubioSenate
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️
Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is calling for a comprehensive review of USAID spending following the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul the agency. USAID, previously independent, is being absorbed into the State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to concerns about waste, fraud, and its alignment with U.S. core interests, leading to significant program cancellations and layoffs.
Trending- 1 February (2025): President Donald Trump installed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to oversee USAID.
- 2 March 11 (2025): State Department completed a six-week review and announced cancellation of over 80% of USAID programs.
- 3 Later in March (2025): Fox News Digital reported State Department planned to absorb USAID.
- 4 Wednesday (June 4, 2025): Sen. Jim Risch urged a 'top to bottom' USAID spending review at the Hudson Institute.
- Significant reduction in USAID programs
- Thousands of layoffs at USAID
- USAID losing its independent agency status
- Increased scrutiny on foreign aid spending
- Political backlash from Democrats
What: Senator Jim Risch urged a 'top to bottom' review of spending by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after waste and fraud were exposed. This follows the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul USAID, including installing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to oversee it, cancelling over 80% of its programs (5,200 out of 6,200), and absorbing its remaining operations into the State Department, leading to thousands of staff layoffs.
When: Wednesday (Jim Risch's statement at Hudson Institute), February (Trump installed Marco Rubio to oversee USAID), March 11 (Rubio announced State Department completed review and program cancellations), later in March (Fox News Digital reported State Department planned to absorb USAID), several weeks into the Trump administration (Risch and Rubio evaluated programs).
Where: Washington (Hudson Institute), Serbia (program for diversity, equity, inclusion), Ireland (DEI musical program), United States (general).
Why: Concerns about USAID not advancing U.S. core interests, waste, and fraud in its spending (e.g., $3 million for 'promotion of democracy in Lower Slobbovia,' $1.5 million for DEI in Serbia, $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland). The Trump administration aims to reorient foreign assistance programs to align directly with U.S. national interests.
How: Senator Risch publicly called for a review. The Trump administration installed Marco Rubio to oversee USAID, conducted a six-week review, cancelled numerous programs, and is absorbing USAID into the State Department. This involves layoffs and a focus on 'life-saving' foreign assistance programs.