Sponsors (3)
The bill centralizes USADF functions within the State Department to simplify oversight and reduce administrative costs and disruption, but does so at the risk of losing dedicated grassroots grantmaking, specialized focus, and clear legal/employee protections for partners and staff.
Federal assets and unexpended balances tied to the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) will be preserved and operations transferred to the State Department, reducing the risk of abrupt program shutdowns for current projects and partners.
Moving USADF functions into the State Department simplifies and better coordinates U.S. foreign-aid delivery, potentially enabling faster policy alignment and easier oversight of these programs.
Eliminating/absorbing the separate USADF entity may reduce federal administrative and program costs, producing some savings for U.S. taxpayers.
Communities in African countries and U.S. NGOs and local partners that relied on USADF grants will lose a dedicated source of small-scale development funding and technical support, disrupting projects and services on the ground.
Eliminating USADF as an independent statutory tool risks reducing U.S. diplomatic and development capacity at the grassroots level, weakening long-term strategic relationships and U.S. influence in partner communities.
Consolidation into the State Department could erode the Foundation's independence and its specialized focus on grassroots, community-driven development, causing a loss of programming tailored to local needs.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Abolishes the USADF, repeals its authorizing statute, and transfers its functions, assets, and legal references to the Secretary of State/Department of State.
Introduced March 13, 2025 by James Risch · Last progress March 13, 2025
Abolishes the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), repeals its authorizing statute, and transfers all of its functions, unexpended balances, assets, and responsibilities to the Secretary of State and the Department of State. All references in law and official documents to the USADF or its officers are deemed to refer to the Secretary of State or the Department of State beginning on the date of enactment, and prior USADF officers are not required to be reappointed to effect the transfer.