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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a sweeping overhaul of USAID programs, with 83% of them being completely canceled following a six-week review by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The move marks a striking shift in U.S. foreign aid policies.

Rubio revealed early Monday that 5,200 contracts—equating to "tens of billions of dollars"—are being terminated. According to Rubio, many of these programs were not only failing to serve U.S. national interests but were actively harming them. He made the announcement in a post on X, where he underscored the significance of the reforms.

The remaining 18% of USAID programs, roughly 1,000 in total, will now fall under the purview of the State Department. Rubio noted that this transition was made in coordination with Congress, effectively shifting the future of U.S. foreign aid into new hands.

Rubio took a moment to acknowledge the efforts of DOGE and its staff, who he said worked tirelessly to bring about these changes. Elon Musk, who heads DOGE, responded to Rubio’s post, calling the work "tough but necessary." Musk further emphasized that the critical elements of USAID should have always been under the State Department’s management.

Reports indicate tensions flared last week between Rubio and Musk during a meeting with President Donald Trump's Cabinet. The exchange reportedly centered on whether Rubio was moving quickly enough to implement the cuts. Trump, however, intervened in Rubio’s defense, describing him as doing a "great job" in a challenging role. In a later post on Truth Social, Trump reassured the public that Rubio and Musk maintain a "great relationship." If only all spats ended with glowing endorsements and social media reconciliation, right?

USAID has long been a target for overhaul under the Trump administration. In fact, on his first day in office, Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all U.S. foreign assistance programs to ensure alignment with American interests. Musk has also been a vocal critic of the agency, labeling it "beyond repair" and accusing it of funneling funds to left-wing nonprofits in ways he likened to money laundering.

Not everyone is on board with the administration's moves. A series of lawsuits has emerged in response to the dismantling of USAID, with the Supreme Court recently refusing to block a federal judge's order for the U.S. to resume $2 billion in foreign aid payments tied to pre-existing contracts.

Efforts to reach the State Department for comment on the latest developments were unsuccessful as of Monday morning.