USAID was the federal government's lead agency for civilian foreign assistance, running development, global health, disaster relief, and humanitarian programs in dozens of countries. Created in 1961 and codified as an independent establishment by statute in 1998, it was led by an Administrator who reported to the Secretary of State. In 2025 the agency was dismantled and its remaining functions were folded into the State Department.
Created by Congress under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (USAID created by E.O. 10973); codified as an independent establishment by sec. 1413 of the Foreign Affairs Agencies Consolidation Act of 1998 (Title XIV of Div. G of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998) (Pub. L. 87-195 (22 U.S.C. ch. 32); USAID codified at 22 U.S.C. 6563 (Pub. L. 105-277, Div. G, Title XIV, sec. 1413); Administrator appointed under FAA sec. 624(a), 22 U.S.C. 2384(a)), it acts within the authority that statute grants. Its actions are subject to judicial review and to congressional oversight and funding.
