The reopening of the federal government in the United States took place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, with the signing at the White House of the H.R. 7148 bill, dubbed the “2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act,” the package with which the Administration aims to fund most federal operations until the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2026.
But the event, broadcast live, was not limited to a budgetary ceremony. In his remarks, Donald Trump took the opportunity of the signing to deliver a direct blow to Washington's traditional foreign policy, asserting that the law "continues the closure of USAID" and that, instead, it creates an America First Opportunity Fund, a new fund through which, he stated, international aid will only be provided when it "serves American interests."
Trump also celebrated that the package "cuts" nearly $10 billion in foreign assistance, which he labeled as "waste," presenting it as part of his agenda to reduce spending and reorder priorities. This shift does not occur in a vacuum: organizations and think tanks have been documenting the government's steps to freeze or dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and to transfer functions, in a process that has raised alarms over the impact on humanitarian and global health programs.
Since the beginning of his new term, Trump has portrayed USAID as an ideological and bureaucratic focal point. On February 3, 2025, in remarks to Fox, he made a statement that set the tone: “I love the concept, but they turned out to be radical left lunatics.”
Shortly thereafter, the White House took concrete steps. The State Department reported that Trump appointed Marco Rubio as interim administrator of USAID, as part of a review and possible reorganization of foreign assistance.
In parallel, the president's political environment propelled the issue with a narrative of "cleansing" and cutbacks. Elon Musk, then at the helm of the government's efficiency apparatus (DOGE), referred to USAID as a "criminal organization" and stated that it was "time for it to die," comments that intensified the pressure on the agency.
The escalation ultimately turned into a formal decision. In March 2025, the Department of State announced the permanent closure of USAID and the absorption of many of its functions, a move that was also described in internal memos regarding job elimination and restructuring.
And on July 1, 2025, Rubio proclaimed the "end" of USAID as the executor of foreign aid, arguing that assistance should align with national strategy and not operate as a "charitable organization" separate from Washington's interests.
For its part, the event on Tuesday also had its share of spectacle. Trump criticized spending on public media, defended cuts to IRS programs, and emphasized funding for deportations and border security, while opening a Q&A session that led to discussions on international politics and migration.
The truth is that, with the signing of H.R. 7148, the White House not only closed the chapter on the "shutdown," but also set the stage for an even larger and more uncomfortable debate, both within and outside the United States: what happens to U.S. foreign aid when USAID is turned off and replaced by an America First fund.
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