What is USAid and why does Trump dislike it so much?

The US agency distributes tens of billions of dollars' worth of aid every year and is a key tool to promote soft power around the world

Donald Trump's administration has confirmed plans to merge the US international aid agency USAid into the state department in a major revamp that would shrink its workforce and align its spending with Trump's priorities.

The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, declared himself the acting administrator of the agency and employees have been locked out of its Washington DC headquarters, while others have been suspended.