The Trump administration's dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development is hurting a variety of U.S. companies, nonprofits and farms
The shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has disrupted the livelihoods of nonprofit workers, farmers, and American businesses. USAID oversees over $60 billion in foreign assistance, with more than 80% of its contracts held by American companies. The Trump administration has criticized the agency's programs as wasteful and ideologically driven. The shutdown has led to layoffs, with USAID contractors reporting nearly 13,000 American workers let go. Nonprofits reliant on USAID funding, such as HIAS, have seen their operations severely impacted, with funding cuts affecting their missions. Additionally, American farmers worry about losing market share as USAID-run food programs, a key customer since the 1960s, face disruptions. The shutdown has also halted USAID's decades-long efforts to build alliances and counter adversaries globally.
