Trump moves to cut $5 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress, risking shutdown. Learn impacts on global programs, USAID, and more.
Demonstrators and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk as they disrupt the federal government, including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, which administers foreign aid approved by Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.(File Photo | AP)
News Article
Trump Moves to Cut $5 Billion in Foreign Aid
By AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW) Staff
Washington, DC – President Donald Trump has taken a big step to stop $5 billion in foreign aid. This money was already okayed by Congress. But now, the White House says it will block it. This move could lead to a government shutdown next month. Many people are upset about it.
The aid helps countries around the world. It goes to places like Venezuela, Ukraine, and others. For example, it funds health programs and peace efforts. Trump wrote a letter to the House. He said the cuts hit the State Department and USAID. USAID is the main US aid group. However, Trump has shrunk it a lot since he came back to office.
Why is this happening? Trump wants to save money. He calls some spending wasteful. But Democrats say this breaks the law. They warn it could stop talks on the budget. The deadline is September 30. If no deal, the government might shut down. That means no pay for workers and closed services.
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Moreover, this is not new for Trump. He tried cuts before. In fact, courts have stopped some of his plans. For instance, a court blocked ending protections for Venezuelans. That helped 600,000 people stay in the US. Now, with this aid cut, groups say lives are at risk. Aid groups help with food and health in poor countries.
Let’s look at the numbers. The cut includes $3 billion from USAID. Plus, $900 million from the State Department. Also, $800 million for UN peace work. And $300 million for democracy programs. Here is some data to show the impact.
Therefore, what do experts say? On sites like Quora and Reddit, people ask why Trump does this. Many say it’s about his “America First” plan. He wants less money abroad. But others worry about world ties. For example, India buys Russian oil. Trump put tariffs on India for that. Now, Putin plans to visit India in December. Modi and Putin will talk at a summit in China first.
In addition, Elon Musk is involved. Protests happened against Trump and Musk. They say the two disrupt the government. Musk has a new party. Trump mocked it. But they are allies in some ways.
From ChatGPT and Gemini AI, we learned readers search for “Trump aid cut effects.” They want simple facts. Like, how it hits poor countries. Or if it causes shutdown. On Brainly and Chegg, students ask about US budget laws. The law says Congress controls money. Trump uses a trick called “pocket rescission.” It’s old and rare. Last used in 1977 by Carter.
However, not everyone agrees. Republican Susan Collins says it’s against the law. She wants talks instead. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, calls it a path to shutdown. He says Republicans should stop Trump.
Now, the Supreme Court might get involved. Trump appealed there before on aid freezes. The court split 5-4 last time. But they sided with him in other cases.
What about global views? In India, people watch this. Trump tariffs hit Indian goods. Up to 50%. Why? For buying Russian oil. But India says it’s needed. Russia sells cheap oil. This helps India’s economy. Putin and Modi are close. Their ties go back years.
In the USA, all ages care. Young people on Reddit talk about climate aid. Older folks worry about security. From Dummies and WikiHow, we see how aid works. It builds friends abroad. Cuts could hurt US image.
Furthermore, a court said many Trump tariffs are illegal. But he keeps going. For Venezuela, protections stay for now. A court blocked ending them.
To learn more, check this external link: Reuters article on Trump foreign aid cut.
At AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW), we cover global news. Visit america112.com for updates on Trump, India, and more. We aim for truth and simple reads.
But wait, is there hope? Some say Congress can fight back. They might sue or pass new laws. Meanwhile, aid groups scramble. They help millions. For example, in Ukraine, aid fights war effects.
Let’s add more data. Past aid spending: In 2024, US gave $60 billion total aid. Now, cut 8%. Here is a pie chart.
This shows the slice. Small but big impact.
From Politifact, facts check: Trump did dismantle USAID. True. Founded in 1961 by Kennedy. Used in Cold War.
On eHow and Ask a Librarian, tips say read laws. The Impoundment Control Act lets requests. But pocket way skips Congress.