President Trump has signed an Executive Order on February 19, 2025, aimed at streamlining government by eliminating what his administration considers unnecessary entities and functions. The Executive Order, titled “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” targets several established organizations.
The list of entities marked for termination includes:
- U.S. Institute of Peace
- U.S. African Development Foundation
- Inter-America Foundation
In a move consistent with the administration’s scrutiny of foreign aid programs, the Executive Order also directs the termination of USAID’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA). This committee has historically served as a connection point between the U.S. government and private voluntary organizations and other implementing partners engaged in humanitarian assistance and development work.
This action follows several other Executive Orders focused on restructuring government operations, including recent directives targeting federal contracting and grant management systems. Together, these orders signal a significant shift in how the federal government approaches international engagement. The full implications of these changes for international development efforts, peace initiatives, and public-private partnerships remain to be seen as implementation of the EOs proceeds.
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