USAID control handed to the Department of State
According to CNN, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has become the acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), confirming rumors of the Trump administration’s attempts to merge USAID with the State Department without congressional approval.
Congress established USAID as an independent body by statute, allowing the agency to prioritize developmental and humanitarian efforts rather than the political interests of the State Department. Now, growing uncertainty about the future of U.S. global health agencies, funding, and programs – which many countries rely on for essential reproductive health services, including family planning, maternal care, and HIV prevention – could jeopardize the health and lives of millions worldwide.