Usaid News - Latest Updates, Headlines & Analysis

Senior USAID official directs remaining staff to shred, burn all documents: Report

Washington, DC, March 12: A senior official at USAID directed the agency's remaining staff to be present at the agency's now-former headquarters in Washington on Tuesday for an "all day" group effort to destroy documents that are present there, many of which include sensitive information, a report by Politico stated.

US: Divided Supreme Court rejects Trump administration's plea to freeze foreign aid

Washington DC, March 5: A divided Supreme Court of the US on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's request to keep billions of dollars in foreign aid approved by Congress frozen, CNN reported.

Bangladesh denies Trump's allegations of receiving USD 29 million fund for 'political' project

Dhaka, March 3: Bangladesh has denied US President Donald Trump's allegations of Dhaka receiving USD 29 million in funds to implement a 'controversial' project to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh.

Nepal's Rhino census becomes uncertain with suspension of USAID

Kathamandu, March 2: Nepal's rhino census conducted in an interval of every five years now faces an uncertain future with the suspension of USAID, one of the major donors for the project, by the Donald Trump administration.

USAID workers take personal belongings from headquarters in Washington after DOGE layoffs

Washington, DC, February 28: US Agency for International Development workers were allowed to briefly re-enter the headquarters in Washington on Thursday to take their personal belongings, ABC News reported. USAID staffers said they were disheartened after Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) laid them off or put them on leave.

US Chief Justice briefly pauses judge's order on Trump administration to release foreign aid

Washington, DC, February 27: Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts, on Wednesday (local time) briefly paused a midnight deadline for the Donald Trump administration to unfreeze nearly USD 2 billion in foreign aid payments, imposed by lower judge who found the administration had breached its ruling, The Hill reported.

USAID did not use government channel to finance political projects in Bangladesh, official says

Dhaka, February 25: USAID had avoided normal government official channel to finance USD 29 million to implement a controversial project to strengthen political landscape in Bangladesh, a senior government NGO Affairs official said.

Fight over USAID funding: Cong claims 7 projects got grant, BJP calls it 'theatrics to hide beneficiaries'

New Delhi, Feb 24: The raging row over USAID funding to India for 'voter turnout' has kicked up a political storm, with Congress and BJP taking turns to potshots at each other over the 'beneficiaries'. Congress called it another 'jumla' to mislead and misguide the nation while BJP has snapped back, accusing the former of colluding with foreign forces to conspire against country.

Over 1,600 USAID employees fired amid Trump administration reshuffling

Washington, Feb 24: The Donald Trump administration has announced the dismissal of over 1,600 employees from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), with additional staff placed on paid administrative leave.

USAID funds flowed into economic projects in India in 2023-24, not voter turnout: Finance Ministry report

New Delhi, Feb 23: While US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on USAID's funding in India, the annual report of the Nirmala Sitharaman-headed Finance Ministry shows that the assistance of $750 million provided by the US agency flowed into government projects linked to food, agriculture, rural development, energy and the environment during 2023-24.

Hungary's Orban vows probe into US-funded 'Pseudo-Civil' organisations

Budapest, Feb 23: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that his government will send a commissioner to the US to gather information on American funds flowing to Hungary's "pseudo-civil public organisations."

Trump suggests India help US with elections after criticising USAID funding for India's elections

Washington DC, February 23: During his closing speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, US President Donald Trump criticised the USAID funding of USD 18 million funding for helping India with its elections.

Concerning and worrisome: Jaishankar on USAID funding allegations for 'voter turnout'

New Delhi, February 22: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Saturday expressed concern over allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated USD 21 million for "voter turnout" in India.

Trump administration's information on USAID is 'concerning': EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi, Feb 22: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on Saturday that the information given by the administration of US President Donald Trump regarding USAID is 'concerning'

Congress accuses US Prez and BJP of misleading public on USAID funding, demands white paper

New Delhi, Feb 22: The Congress party has intensified its attack on the BJP and US President Donald Trump, accusing both of brazenly lying about USAID funding to India.

'Shocking': VP Jagdeep Dhankhar on bid to rig Indian elections

New Delhi, Feb 21: Calling nationalism as every citizen's first religion, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said he was shocked by the revelation about a foreign attempt to manipulate Indian elections and called for exposing those who colluded in such an attack on our democracy.

Deeply troubling, agencies probing foreign interference in India's internal affairs: MEA on USAID funding

New Delhi, Feb 21: India on Friday said that relevant departments and agencies are looking into the information put out by the US administration about the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) meddling in Indian elections and spending millions to influence voter turnout in the country.

Democratic process of country was sought to be modulated, V-P Dhankhar on USAID funding controversy

New Delhi, February 21: After US President Donald Trump again raised the issue of alleged US funding of USD 21 million for voter turnout in India and dubbed it 'kickbacks', Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Friday that he was "stunned" and said that the revelations of the Trump suggested that the "democratic process of this country was sought to be modulated" and "manipulated"

BJP disputes leading daily's fact-check on USAID funds for India, calls it cover-up

New Delhi, Feb 21: US President Donald Trump’s ‘revelations’ on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds, particularly his reference to $21 million funding to India for voter turnout, triggered a political storm in the country with BJP and Congress engaging in a bitter barb exchange.

Trump terms $21 million USAID funds to India a 'kickback scheme', BJP demands probe

New Delhi, Feb 21: Continuing his tirade at the previous Biden administration over routing USAID funds for influencing elections and governance in foreign countries, US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his charge of $21 million money being pumped into India for ‘voter turnout’ with an intent to achieve alternate election results in 2024.

How foreign funding drove a systematic push to shape 2024 polls seeking alternate results in India

New Delhi, Feb 20: The debate surrounding foreign influence on elections in India has drawn attention to the role of USAID funding, particularly its link to NGOs and media outlets with alleged ties to political agendas in the country. According to various sources, the funding patterns and its apparent shift during different governmental tenures have raised questions about the external and direct impact on politics in India.

From Dhaka to Delhi, experts back Trump's strong stance against USAID for its role in destabilising strong sovereign governments

New Delhi, Feb 20: Top analysts, politicians, diplomats and strategic affairs experts in India and its neighbourhood on Thursday backed US President Donald Trump's comments questioning the Biden administration's motive behind spending $21 million through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on voter turnout in India, $29M to "strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh" and $20M for "fiscal federalism" in Nepal.

Economist Sanjeev Sanyal condemns USAID's role in National Family Health Survey

New Delhi, February 18: Sanjeev Sanyal, economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, raised concerns about the influence of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on India's health system and social policies, particularly through its involvement with the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).

USAID effectively ran India's National Family Health Survey from 1990s: Sanjeev Sanyal

New Delhi, Feb 17: Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) on Monday said those concerned about USAID's interference in Indian elections should be equally concerned about USAID's tentacles in India's medical system and social policies.

USAID India voter row: NGOs did the work for whom? Questions arise

New Delhi, Feb 17: Several questions are cropping up over the USAID funds made available to several NGOs in the country.

China plays its Trump card

Hong Kong, February 17: As newly installed President Donald Trump pursues his personal agenda in the White House, Chairman Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elites must be rubbing their hands with glee. Trump and his senior officials are alarming or snubbing one country after another, thus providing China multiple opportunities to advance its own authoritarian cause.

Rashid Alvi calls for thorough investigation into DOGE matter

New Delhi, Feb 17: Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Monday emphasised the need for a comprehensive investigation into the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) matter.

Slovak PM seeks information from Elon Musk on US grants to NGOs, media in Slovakia

Bratislava, Feb 11: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has unveiled a letter addressed to Elon Musk, head of the US Department of Government Efficiency, requesting details on US grants provided to Slovak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and media outlets.

'Back to plastic': Trump to sign executive order reversing Biden's ridiculous paper straw push

Washington DC, February 8: US President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an Executive Order next week that will reverse the Biden administration's push for paper straws and head back to plastic usage.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt slams USAID for wasteful spending on DEI projects abroad

Washington DC, February 4: White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt on Monday criticised the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and pointed out projects like USD 1.5 million for Diversity, equity and inclusion programmes (DEI) in Serbia, a transgender opera in Colombia, and a DEI musical in Ireland and called these projects "wasteful spending of American taxpayer dollars."

Trump appoints Rubio as acting director of USAID after humanitarian agency taken over by State Department

Washington, DC, February 4: US president Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), confirming the de-facto takeover of the humanitarian agency by the State Department.

Shutting USAID weakens US, helps adversaries: Democrats

New York, Feb 4: Democrats have vowed to fight the shuttering of USAID, asserting it weakens the US and helps its adversaries.

Shutting down USAID will have immediate impact on saving lives: UN

United Nations, Feb 4: The shutting down of USAID, a “critical partner” of the world organisation, will have an “immediate impact on lifesaving activities”, according to Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

India to have minimal impact if USAID shuts

New York, Feb 4: India will have a minimal impact if the Trump administration shuts the USAID programme.

USAID programmes good, but agency's attitude is not: Marco Rubio

Washington, Feb 3: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday kept the door open for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to stay in business or for its programmes to continue and not be shut down as said earlier in the day by Elon Musk.

USAID headquarters closed on Monday, Musk says aid agency should be 'shut down'

Washington, Feb 3: Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who heads an agency entrusted by US President Donald Trump to increase the efficiency of the federal government, said on Monday that he wants to shut down US Agency for International Development (USAID), an autonomous body of the State Department that is one of the world's largest official aid agencies and accounts for more than half of US foreign assistance.

Elon Musk dubs USAID criminal organization, says time for it to die

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