Georgia’s Rep. Greene pushes bill to abolish USAID amid legal hurdles

A Georgia Republican congresswoman is seeking to solidify President Donald Trump’s attempt to abolish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

House Resolution 1123 was introduced last week by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Rep. Greene's bill to end USAID

What we know:

Rep. Greene has introduced a bill, HR 1123, to permanently abolish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The legislation, supported by 14 Republican co-sponsors, aims to immediately stop taxpayer funding to USAID and reclaim any unspent grants. It also proposes transferring the agency’s assets to the State Department. 

What we don't know:

This move comes as the Trump administration faces legal challenges over its efforts to sideline thousands of USAID employees. A U.S. District Court judge recently issued a temporary order blocking the administration from laying off 2,200 USAID workers.

Musk-lead team identifies USAID to cut

The backstory:

The Trump administration, through the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, has been campaigning against USAID. This has raised concerns about the oversight of $8.2 billion in unspent humanitarian aid. USAID’s inspector general has warned that the agency has lost much of its ability to ensure aid does not fall into the hands of extremist groups or go astray in conflict zones. The situation escalated when the General Services Administration removed USAID from its Washington headquarters lease, barring staffers from entering their offices.

Detractors to USAID abolition

What they're saying:

The Norwegian Refugee Council has called the funding halt "the most devastating" in its history, affecting services for hundreds of thousands in 20 countries. Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican’s humanitarian arm, condemned the efforts to defund USAID, warning that "stopping USAID will jeopardize essential services for hundreds of millions of people." Cardinal Michael Czerny criticized the dismantling of USAID without warning, stating, "If the government thinks its programs have been distorted by ideology, then they should reform them. Shutting down is not the best way to do so."

Trump administration's foreign policy shift

Why you should care:

The Trump administration’s actions have significant implications for global humanitarian aid and U.S. foreign policy. The funding freeze has forced U.S.-funded aid programs to shut down, despite a waiver for emergency food aid and "life-saving" programs. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has warned that these policies "will harm the most vulnerable among us." Additionally, the administration’s actions have sparked concerns over immigration policies, with more than 8,000 arrests reported since Trump’s inauguration.

State Department could take over foreign aid funding

What's next:

A final court ruling on the administration’s USAID actions is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the administration continues to face criticism, though Trump has defended the cuts, suggesting some programs could resume under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s oversight. "Let him take care of the few good ones," Trump said in a Fox News interview. The outcome of the court ruling will likely have lasting effects on the future of U.S. humanitarian aid and international relations.