June 17 (UPI) -- The Trump administration's merger of the U.S. Agency for International Development into the State Department has nonprofit organizations wondering if their programs will continue.
A State Department spokesperson told UPI that the United States expects other countries to increase their roles in delivering life-saving aid around the globe.
"Under President [Donald] Trump's leadership, Secretary [Marco] Rubio is taking a historic step in realigning how the United States delivers foreign aid and implements its America First Foreign Policy to ensure foreign assistance advances U.S. national interests," the spokesperson said in an email. "The United States is not ceasing foreign assistance; we are aligning our programs to ensure they are more effective and aligned with our national interests."
The spokesperson added that "essential life-saving and humanitarian programs" will continue. The State Department is taking up the responsibility of the limited USAID programming that will remain.
The cuts to USAID that began in January leave more than 10,000 workers of various statuses at risk of losing their jobs. Last week, Rubio ordered that all USAID employees abroad be terminated as the reorganization of the agency's responsibilities nears its September deadline.
