The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 25 March 2025 an analysis titled "How to Successfully Merge USAID and the Department of State" by Daniel F. Runde.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department will administer what remains of USAID programs. The author notes that numerous other aid donor countries have followed this pattern, and the US could learn from them. The author then proposes a number of steps needed to merge State and USAID successfully.
Comment: This scenario makes some sense if done thoughtfully and in advance of the dismantlement of USAID. It holds little chance of succeeding after USAID has been dismantled and its personnel dispersed unless the goal is to retain virtually nothing of former American foreign aid programs.
At the turn of the last century, the United States Information Service (USIA) merged with State and became the public affairs division of State. It was done methodically, thoughtfully, and with great effort to preserve most of its former programs. But even in this case, the State Department public affairs division has never lived up to the success of the former USIA.
