Has USAID spending been cut by less than we thought?
24/3/2025: Figures from the Center for Global Development, based on leaked lists of terminated and retained programs, place USAID spending cuts at around 34% — way lower than estimates based just on the number of canceled programs.
Source: Devex
Judge finds DOGE’s shutdown of USAID ‘likely’ unconstitutional
19/3/2025: In a lawsuit brought by a group of anonymous USAID employees and contractors, a federal judge ordered employees access to USAID systems reinstated and barred Elon Musk and DOGE from taking further actions to shutter USAID. He stopped short of reinstating terminated programs or compelling payments.
Source: Devex
The 2026 Aid Transparency Index is canceled. Here’s what it means.
4/3/2025: The CEO of Publish What You Fund has announced that the 2026 Aid Transparency Index will not be produced due to failure to secure funding. Since 2012, every two years, the Index has independently assessed and ranked the transparency of the world’s 50 largest aid agencies. Without it, an unchecked decline in aid transparency is likely.
Source: Devex
Launch of $750M African climate-resilient infrastructure fund
4/3/2025: The Africa Finance Corporation has closed the first round of financing for a new fund focused on climate-resilient infrastructure on the continent. Designed to accelerate climate adaptation, the fund has attracted significant support from the Green Climate Fund and the European Investment Bank.
Source: Devex
Debt service payments in poorest countries reach alarming levels
25/2/2025: The UN Development Programme is calling for the June International Conference on Financing for Development to consider a systemic debt relief initiative for the poorest countries. 17 countries now spend more than 20 percent of national revenue on interest payments, a threshold strongly linked to default risk.
Source: UN Development Programme
UK will slash billions in aid spending to fund larger military
25/2/2025: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stunned members of his own Labour Party with the announcement that he will shift billions of pounds from overseas development to support a bigger military — despite a manifesto promise to increase aid spending from 0.5% back to 0.7% of gross national income.
Source: Devex
Why are thousands being culled from USAID?
25/2/2025: What was once a 10,000-person agency has been decimated. Thousands have been placed on administrative leave, and between 1,600 to 2,000 further staff members have been told they will be eliminated entirely. So who will remain at USAID?
Source: Devex
Court says thousands of USAID staff can be put on leave
22/2/2025: A US federal judge has reversed a recent court order block on the Trump administration’s efforts to cut USAID’s staff. Over the last month, the agency’s 10,000 staff members have faced wave after wave of furloughs, terminations, and suspensions. Now it seems that these will continue.
Source: Devex
How will Trump freeze on USAID affect millions around the world?
20/2/2022: Within hours of taking office on 20 January, the US president, Donald Trump, announced an immediate 90-day freeze on $40bn for international projects coming from the US Agency for International Development. The Guardian explains the far-reaching consequences.
Source: The Guardian
IRC cutting thousands of staff after US aid freeze
19/2/2025: The International Rescue Committee is cutting thousands of staff, in another sign of turmoil as the US aid funding freeze continues. Layoffs and furloughs have hit many international NGOs and UN agencies are beginning cuts, particularly for resettlement-related programmes.
Source: The New Humanitarian