USAID Website Goes 'Offline' Amid Donald Trump's Freeze On Foreign Aid Programs

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The U.S. Agency for International Development's website went offline on Saturday without explanation, as President Donald Trump 's freeze on U.S.-funded foreign aid and development programs led to thousands of furloughs, layoffs, and program shutdowns.

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As reported by the Associated Press, Congressional Democrats openly clashed with the Trump administration, expressing fears that Trump may be moving toward dissolving USAID as an independent agency and merging it into the State Department. Democrats argue that Trump lacks the legal authority to eliminate a congressionally funded independent agency and emphasize that USAID's work is crucial to national security.

The report noted that Trump and congressional Republicans say much of foreign aid and development programs is wasteful. They single out programs they say advance liberal social agendas.

The fear of more severe action against USAID comes two weeks into the administration's halt of billions of dollars in U.S. humanitarian, development, and security assistance.

The U.S. is the world's largest donor of humanitarian aid, but it allocates less than 1% of its budget to foreign assistance, a smaller share compared to some other countries.

Administration officials declined to comment on Saturday when asked about concerns raised by lawmakers and others regarding Trump potentially ending USAID's independent status.

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President John F. Kennedy created the organization at the height of the Cold War to counter Soviet influence. USAID today is at the center of U.S. challenges to the growing influence of China, which has a successful“Belt and Road” foreign aid program of its own.

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