In his X post, Rubio said that after the review, the US was "officially ending" about 5,200 of USAID's 6,200 programmes. "In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programmes we are keeping....to be administered more effectively under the State Department," Rubio added.

The rapid pace, and the steps skipped in ending contracts, left USAID supporters challenging whether any actual program-by-program reviews had taken place.

The State Department will take control of the remaining programs as DOGE's efforts to downsize the federal government continue, he says.