USAID Website Goes Offline Concerns over Potential Shutdown of the Agency

The website of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) went offline on Saturday, and there was no explanation given. This comes as President Donald Trump’s freeze on U.S.-funded foreign aid continues, causing furloughs, layoffs, and program shutdowns.

Congressional Democrats are concerned that Trump may try to end USAID as an independent agency and move it under the State Department. They argue that Trump doesn’t have the legal right to eliminate USAID and that its work is important for national security. Trump and many Republicans believe some foreign aid programs are wasteful, particularly those that promote liberal social agendas. The U.S. is the world’s largest donor of humanitarian aid, although it spends less than 1% of its budget on foreign assistance. No comment was made by administration officials on the growing concerns about the future of USAID.