Climate adaptation and resilience projects funded by USAID are halted due to uncertainties within the agency
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a key player in the United States' global development efforts, has been thrown into disarray due to the Trump administration's actions. The agency's website went dark over the weekend without explanation, and several initiatives, including the President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience, are now in limbo.
The Trump administration froze all foreign assistance funded or funneled through USAID at the beginning of its term. This decision has created problems that put the nation at risk and undermined American credibility globally, according to a group of lawmakers who signed a letter expressing their deep concern.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he had taken over USAID's control on Monday, citing insubordination by agency officials. However, the lawmakers stated that Trump cannot unilaterally shut down USAID and merge it with the State Department. Such a move would require an Act of Congress.
USAID manages around $40 billion annually, primarily distributing funding via grants and technical or policy support. The agency has climate and energy projects situated all over the world, funded from various sources including Congressional appropriations, private sector investment, international climate funds, and international partnerships. In the fiscal year ending in September of last year, USAID and the State Department collaborated with 66 countries on climate engagement strategies.
Elon Musk, leading President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, has marked USAID for closure. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the attack on USAID from a podium in front of the agency's shuttered offices, calling it 'an absolute gift to our adversaries.' The lawmakers emphasized the importance of maintaining an independent development voice and capability within the U.S. government, as USAID is, by statute, an independent establishment outside of the State Department.
The lawmakers elaborated in their letter that they are concerned about China potentially using the opening to assert its priorities and fill the funding gap in countries where the United States has withdrawn its support. The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 suggests that USAID should cease its war on fossil fuels in the developing world and support the responsible management of oil and gas reserves.
It is not mentioned in the provided search results who the congressman who criticized the closure of USAID and its takeover by the State Department in 2026 and spoke at the podium in front of the closed USAID offices is. The Power Resilience Forum 2026 will take place in Houston, TX from January 21-23, 2026, focusing on utilities planning and operating for grid resilience in the face of extreme weather. Early bird pricing ends Oct 1.
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