Washington: The administration of US President Donald Trump has officially confirmed the dissolution of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of significant cuts to US foreign aid, causing discontent among various countries and humanitarian organizations.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that both the Department of State and USAID notified Congress of a reorganization process. This process involves transferring some functions of the agency to the State Department by July 1, 2025, while eliminating other functions that do not align with the administration’s priorities.

Rubio emphasized that USAID has deviated from its primary mission and highlighted the necessity to “reorient our foreign assistance programs to more directly align with what is best for the United States and our citizens.”

Upon his return to the White House on January 20, President Trump signed an executive order that froze US foreign assistance for 90 days. This order included several cuts to various UNRWA programs, although vital humanitarian assistance was exempted. Consequently, the majority of UNRWA employees were placed on administrative leave.