In the initial phase of the reform, USAID canceled over 4,000 grants.

In the initial phase of the reforms by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), over 4,100 grants were canceled, resulting in savings of $4.4 billion. The findings were published by the U.S. Department of State, reports Voice of America.

Within 15 days, the State Department assessed more than 9,000 grants related to foreign aid, totaling over $15.9 billion.

It was noted that funding for food assistance, supplies for treating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria was preserved. Additionally, aid programs for Lebanon, Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries in dire need of American grants were maintained.

During the 90-day review led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the disbursement of USAID grants was suspended, except for emergency assistance. U.S. President Donald Trump instructed Rubio to ensure that "taxpayer dollars are used to strengthen, secure, and promote the prosperity of America."

More than 6,000 long-term grants totaling $58 billion remain under review. It is anticipated that following the assessment, the overall funding for foreign programs will decrease by 92%.

For over 60 years, USAID has supported various projects aimed at combating poverty, diseases, and early marriages in Africa. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency provided two hundred ventilators to Russia, which had banned its operations on its territory back in 2012, notes BBC.

Moreover, USAID funded programs to support human rights and democracy, which led to dissatisfaction in authoritarian countries and accusations of "interference in domestic politics."