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flag The U.S. created a new disaster response bureau, cutting USAID’s scope and funding while centralizing aid through global hubs.

flag The U.S. State Department has launched a new Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, replacing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to centralize emergency aid through 12 global hubs in locations including Miami, Kyiv, Addis Ababa, and Manila. flag The bureau, with about 200 staff and a $5.4 billion annual budget—far less than USAID’s prior $40 billion—will focus solely on disaster relief and humanitarian response, while the broader foreign aid portfolio has seen significant cuts, particularly for climate and social justice programs. flag Despite these reductions, the administration pledged $2 billion to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to support targeted relief. flag The reorganization, which followed the firing of roughly 2,000 USAID employees and cancellation of over 80% of its grants, aims to improve coordination and response speed in crises, though concerns remain over reduced transparency and the loss of USAID’s development role.

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