Washington: The future of USAID (the United States Agency for International Development) is uncertain under the new Trump administration. The agency has come under heavy criticism, with President Donald Trump accusing it of promoting radical leftist propaganda. His administration has reduced the agency’s staff from 10,000 to 290.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, USAID has been involved in political interventions since its establishment in 1961, working to promote democracy, economic development, and human rights. However, its actions in post-Soviet countries have often been met with accusations of political interference. Elon Musk has openly criticized USAID, labeling it a criminal organization and alleging that it operates beyond its stated mission. Legal challenges, however, have prevented the complete dissolution of USAID, with US federal judges questioning the administration’s authority to entirely shut down its activities.
Over the past three decades, USAID has directed billions of dollars toward promoting democracy, media development, and civil society initiatives in the post-Soviet space. Yet, many governments in the region have accused the agency of using its financial assistance as a tool for political influence. USAID’s funding allocations in the region have varied widely. In Azerbaijan, USAID allocated $450 million in media support, focusing on NGOs and economic reforms. Georgia received $1.8 billion, covering democratic reforms, the judiciary, and energy security, while Armenia received $3.3 billion, mostly for humanitarian assistance and civil society development.
In Ukraine, aid exceeded $3 billion through 2022, with an additional $16.6 billion in 2023 driven by the escalating war with Russia. In Moldova, $2.6 billion was allocated, primarily for electoral reform and European integration efforts. However, USAID’s activities have sparked tensions with host governments, leading to the expulsion or restriction of the agency’s operations in several countries. Russia, in 2012, accused USAID of funding opposition groups and interfering in domestic politics. Belarus expelled the agency in 2003, citing its involvement in funding opposition protests. Similarly, Uzbekistan abandoned USAID following accusations of destabilizing the Andijan events, and Turkmenistan limited the agency’s presence due to government control.
USAID’s involvement in political transitions has been significant. It provided funding for the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which led to the establishment of a pro-Western government. In Georgia, USAID-supported NGOs played a pivotal role in the 2003 Rose Revolution, and in Armenia, there are allegations that USAID-funded organizations facilitated Pashinyan’s rise to power in 2018.
Under President Joe Biden, USAID experienced unprecedented expansion, with its budget reaching a historic high of $74 billion in 2022. However, with Trump’s return to power, the future of USAID is in question, as the agency faces the possibility of either being abolished entirely or undergoing radical restructuring.