If you're in international development right now, you're likely feeling the ground shift beneath your feet.
What’s happening now with USAID is unprecedented—and the numbers tell a sobering story. This moment is not just a funding crisis; it’s a reckoning for how the sector plans, pivots, and survives.
Since January, Chemonics International has lost over $2.3 billion in unreleased funding across 110 terminated awards, retaining just seven active awards. This isn’t an isolated case. Organizations across the sector—from DAI Global to Creative Associates—are facing similar setbacks.
And it’s not just the funding. Many organizations are experiencing a double impact: significant financial losses and the downsizing of seasoned proposal teams. This creates a widening skills gap at a time when agility and strategic reinvention are more essential than ever.
Since the first weeks of the new administration, thousands of USAID employees have been fired or put on leave, and billions of dollars in aid contracts have been canceled.
On March 10, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of 83% of USAID programs as part of a six-week review, aiming to fold the remaining 1,000 programs under the State Department. This move would effectively shut down USAID entirely.
On March 18, a U.S. District Judge from Maryland ruled that the DOGE attempts to dismantle USAID likely violated the Constitution. However, on March 28, a ruling from a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction that had temporarily blocked the dismantling.
That same day, the administration formally notified Congress of the agency’s closure. Reorganization is scheduled to be complete by July 1st, with many functions transitioning to the State Department.
As of late March, only 900 USAID employees remained on the job.
Some programs will continue under the State Department, focusing on humanitarian assistance, global health, strategic investment, and limited national security. Regional development work will be absorbed by the State’s regional bureaus.
Legal challenges are still pending, and future rulings could alter the course. But for now, the March 28 decision clears the way for the dismantling of USAID to proceed.
Diversifying funding sources has proven to be not just strategic—but absolutely essential—during sector-wide disruptions like the one currently impacting international development.
That’s where Grant Assistant comes in. It was created after conversations with teams who understood the deep complexity of proposal development and wanted a better way forward.
We built a system that helps organizations do two things:
What makes this moment particularly challenging is the loss of experienced proposal writers and technical specialists—the very people who can translate big ideas into fundable proposals.
Grant Assistant helps bridge that gap by:
The goal isn’t to replace human expertise—but to scale it. Our AI-powered platform acts like a partner, helping you write faster, stay organized, and submit more competitive applications even in times of transition.
This is a defining moment for the international development sector. And the organizations that make it through will likely be those that can adapt quickly while still maintaining the quality of their program design and proposals.
Technology alone isn’t the solution—but it can be part of a smarter, more resilient strategy.
If your team is navigating uncertainty, downsizing, or a pivot in funding strategy, know that you’re not alone. Tools like Grant Assistant can help lighten the lift, guide your process, and empower your team to continue its essential work—even as the ground continues to shift.
Need help finding new funding streams or building strong proposals with fewer resources? Book a demo with our team so we can help you find the right path forward.
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If you're in international development right now, you're likely feeling the ground shift beneath your feet.
What’s happening now with USAID is unprecedented—and the numbers tell a sobering story. This moment is not just a funding crisis; it’s a reckoning for how the sector plans, pivots, and survives.
Since January, Chemonics International has lost over $2.3 billion in unreleased funding across 110 terminated awards, retaining just seven active awards. This isn’t an isolated case. Organizations across the sector—from DAI Global to Creative Associates—are facing similar setbacks.
And it’s not just the funding. Many organizations are experiencing a double impact: significant financial losses and the downsizing of seasoned proposal teams. This creates a widening skills gap at a time when agility and strategic reinvention are more essential than ever.
Since the first weeks of the new administration, thousands of USAID employees have been fired or put on leave, and billions of dollars in aid contracts have been canceled.
On March 10, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of 83% of USAID programs as part of a six-week review, aiming to fold the remaining 1,000 programs under the State Department. This move would effectively shut down USAID entirely.
On March 18, a U.S. District Judge from Maryland ruled that the DOGE attempts to dismantle USAID likely violated the Constitution. However, on March 28, a ruling from a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction that had temporarily blocked the dismantling.
That same day, the administration formally notified Congress of the agency’s closure. Reorganization is scheduled to be complete by July 1st, with many functions transitioning to the State Department.
As of late March, only 900 USAID employees remained on the job.
Some programs will continue under the State Department, focusing on humanitarian assistance, global health, strategic investment, and limited national security. Regional development work will be absorbed by the State’s regional bureaus.
Legal challenges are still pending, and future rulings could alter the course. But for now, the March 28 decision clears the way for the dismantling of USAID to proceed.
Diversifying funding sources has proven to be not just strategic—but absolutely essential—during sector-wide disruptions like the one currently impacting international development.
That’s where Grant Assistant comes in. It was created after conversations with teams who understood the deep complexity of proposal development and wanted a better way forward.
We built a system that helps organizations do two things:
What makes this moment particularly challenging is the loss of experienced proposal writers and technical specialists—the very people who can translate big ideas into fundable proposals.
Grant Assistant helps bridge that gap by:
The goal isn’t to replace human expertise—but to scale it. Our AI-powered platform acts like a partner, helping you write faster, stay organized, and submit more competitive applications even in times of transition.
This is a defining moment for the international development sector. And the organizations that make it through will likely be those that can adapt quickly while still maintaining the quality of their program design and proposals.
Technology alone isn’t the solution—but it can be part of a smarter, more resilient strategy.
If your team is navigating uncertainty, downsizing, or a pivot in funding strategy, know that you’re not alone. Tools like Grant Assistant can help lighten the lift, guide your process, and empower your team to continue its essential work—even as the ground continues to shift.
Need help finding new funding streams or building strong proposals with fewer resources? Book a demo with our team so we can help you find the right path forward.
.svg)
If you're in international development right now, you're likely feeling the ground shift beneath your feet.
What’s happening now with USAID is unprecedented—and the numbers tell a sobering story. This moment is not just a funding crisis; it’s a reckoning for how the sector plans, pivots, and survives.
Since January, Chemonics International has lost over $2.3 billion in unreleased funding across 110 terminated awards, retaining just seven active awards. This isn’t an isolated case. Organizations across the sector—from DAI Global to Creative Associates—are facing similar setbacks.
And it’s not just the funding. Many organizations are experiencing a double impact: significant financial losses and the downsizing of seasoned proposal teams. This creates a widening skills gap at a time when agility and strategic reinvention are more essential than ever.
Since the first weeks of the new administration, thousands of USAID employees have been fired or put on leave, and billions of dollars in aid contracts have been canceled.
On March 10, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of 83% of USAID programs as part of a six-week review, aiming to fold the remaining 1,000 programs under the State Department. This move would effectively shut down USAID entirely.
On March 18, a U.S. District Judge from Maryland ruled that the DOGE attempts to dismantle USAID likely violated the Constitution. However, on March 28, a ruling from a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction that had temporarily blocked the dismantling.
That same day, the administration formally notified Congress of the agency’s closure. Reorganization is scheduled to be complete by July 1st, with many functions transitioning to the State Department.
As of late March, only 900 USAID employees remained on the job.
Some programs will continue under the State Department, focusing on humanitarian assistance, global health, strategic investment, and limited national security. Regional development work will be absorbed by the State’s regional bureaus.
Legal challenges are still pending, and future rulings could alter the course. But for now, the March 28 decision clears the way for the dismantling of USAID to proceed.
Diversifying funding sources has proven to be not just strategic—but absolutely essential—during sector-wide disruptions like the one currently impacting international development.
That’s where Grant Assistant comes in. It was created after conversations with teams who understood the deep complexity of proposal development and wanted a better way forward.
We built a system that helps organizations do two things:
What makes this moment particularly challenging is the loss of experienced proposal writers and technical specialists—the very people who can translate big ideas into fundable proposals.
Grant Assistant helps bridge that gap by:
The goal isn’t to replace human expertise—but to scale it. Our AI-powered platform acts like a partner, helping you write faster, stay organized, and submit more competitive applications even in times of transition.
This is a defining moment for the international development sector. And the organizations that make it through will likely be those that can adapt quickly while still maintaining the quality of their program design and proposals.
Technology alone isn’t the solution—but it can be part of a smarter, more resilient strategy.
If your team is navigating uncertainty, downsizing, or a pivot in funding strategy, know that you’re not alone. Tools like Grant Assistant can help lighten the lift, guide your process, and empower your team to continue its essential work—even as the ground continues to shift.
Need help finding new funding streams or building strong proposals with fewer resources? Book a demo with our team so we can help you find the right path forward.
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