Impacts of Trumps plans for USAID downsizing 2025| ��ƽ��

Share of U.S. adults who thought downsizing the U.S. Agency for International Development would have select impacts, as of February 2025

Characteristic	Very likely	Somewhat likely	Not very likely	Not likely at all
Result in more illness and death in low-income countries	32%	35%	23%	10%
Result in more humanitarian crises around the world	29%	34%	27%	11%
Make the U.S. less safe	22%	29%	28%	19%
Allow funds to be redirected to domestic programs	15%	32%	31%	21%
Significantly reduce the U.S. budget deficit	12%	35%	29%	24%

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Release date

March 2025

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Region

United States

Survey time period

February 18 to 25, 2025

Number of respondents

1,322 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Telephone interviews and online survey

Supplementary notes

Original question: "As you may know, the Trump administration is taking action to significantly downsize USAID, including letting go of most agency staff and announcing other changes and funding cuts. How likely do you think it is that getting rid of USAID will...?"

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A survey from February 2025 found that around 67 percent of U.S. adults thought it was very or somewhat likely that the Trump administration’s plans to significantly downsize the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) would result in more illness and death in low-income countries. However, almost half of respondents also thought it was very or somewhat likely that downsizing USAID would significantly reduce the U.S. budget deficit.

In January 2025, President Trump ordered a pause on funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and a 90-day review of all U.S. foreign assistance. By the end of March, the review had been completed, 83 percent of USAID programs were terminated, and it was announced that certain USAID functions would be overtaken by the Department of State while all others would be discontinued.

Trump has said that the United States spends too much on foreign aid and accused USAID of being corrupt and a waste of money. However, foreign aid accounts for just one percent of the federal budget. Furthermore, it is predicted that millions of people will die due to the dissolution of USAID, as vulnerable people around the world will no longer be able to access prevention and treatment for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.