According to an email reviewed by Reuters, a Trump administration official overseeing USAID sought to phase out US aid to Lebanon, arguing that the country had developed an "odd dependency" on American assistance.
In a February 16 directive seen by Reuters, acting USAID deputy administrator Peter Marocco instructed officials to draft a memo outlining how to reduce Lebanon’s reliance on aid and what the US could seek in return for continued support. "Nothing is owed," he wrote, implying that aid should not be taken for granted.
The effort was part of a broader campaign to downsize USAID and merge it into the State Department, Reuters reported. The initiative, led by Marocco and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, resulted in over 80% of USAID programs being canceled. However, emergency food and medical assistance for Lebanon were temporarily shielded under a waiver issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Since 2001, the US has provided Lebanon with over $5.5 billion in humanitarian, military, and economic aid, according to Reuters. The US has long viewed Lebanon’s stability as critical to regional security, particularly in countering the influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah.
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