The Trump administration is considering asking Congress for significant cuts to the budgets of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by nearly half. This decision is part of the government’s efforts to drastically reduce public spending, according to information obtained from documents.
This is reported by Київ24
Funding Reductions for Fiscal Year 2026
The proposal for the 2026 fiscal year calls for only $28.4 billion to be allocated to the State Department and USAID, which is a substantial decrease compared to the $54.4 billion approved in the 2025 budget. This reduction is mandated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and includes the elimination of USAID, with the remaining programs planned to be transferred under the control of the State Department.
Extensive Efforts to Cut Spending
Additionally, Politico reports that this proposal includes the elimination or significant reduction of several programs that support democracy development, educational and cultural exchanges, combating drug trafficking, and UN peacekeeping initiatives. Spending on global health programs could be reduced by approximately 50%, and funding for addressing migration issues and refugees will be cut in half, with a focus on use only in emergencies.
According to two U.S. officials familiar with the situation, the administration is also considering closing up to 30 American diplomatic missions worldwide, including in South Africa, the Sahel, Europe, and Oceania. The document also states that the administration intends to ask Congress to approve about $20 billion in rescissions, meaning funds that will not be spent and will return to the treasury.
It remains uncertain how far this proposal may go. It is possible that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will insist on preserving some programs despite the demands of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). State Department spokespeople have not yet provided comments on this matter. However, Rachel Couley, a spokesperson for the OMB, noted: “No final decisions on funding have been made.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 9 that he supports “significant cuts to spending.”
Furthermore, Trump previously promised to significantly reduce government spending, tasking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, with this mission.