One of the first organizations to be defunded by DOGEs operations in the early days of President Donald Trumps second term was the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, in 2024 the organization had an estimated $35.4 billion in obligations, with most of the funding ($12.3 billion) dedicated to Sub-Saharan Africa. Elon Musk, who is directing the DOGE effort, said he spent the first weekend in February feeding USAID into the wood chipper, and these cuts have decimated the staffing and funding; a recent count indicated 83 percent of international humanitarian and development programs were terminated. By previous internal estimates, U.S. assistance saved 3.3 million lives per year; Atul Gawande, a former USAID official, told The New Yorker that these cuts will result in hundreds of thousands of deaths in the first year, at a minimum. USAIDs defunding will also impact the U.S.s capacity to enact soft power, as other countries like China strengthen its humanitarian outreach. The bludgeoning of PEPFAR [a George W. Bushera AIDS program] and U.S.A.I.D., one of the most eloquent expressions of American values ever created, might be Americas most spectacular act of self-sabotage in generations, the musician Bono told Nicholas Kristof for an opinion piece in The New York Times.The federal definition of construction relates to construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. In a 2017 document, USAID estimated that since 2014, the estimated USAID-funded construction underway at any one time has averaged more than $2 billion.At times, USAIDs work included commissions for architects and engineers. The cratering of USAID and DOGEs cuts stand to have rippling effects not only on the populations the organization previously served but also on the American companies it relied upon to design and supervise construction services. AECOM CancellationsTwo significant contracts stand out when reviewing DOGEs Wall of Receipts: An AECOM contract for $57 million was uploaded on February 12, with an estimated $51 million in savings, and a second contract for $43 million, with an estimated $34.5 million in savings, was uploaded that same day. Both contracts, which if accurately accounted would add up to $85.5 million in savings, were for USAID work in the West Bank and Gaza.The two contracts sum to $100 million, which matches the amount of an award dated September 28, 2024, to AECOM for work in the region to provide professional A&E services for the development of infrastructure in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Israel to support the USAID/WBG Mission in its efforts to empower Palestinians to build thriving communities, promote inclusive development, and advance a two-state solution.AECOM did not respond to ANs requests for comment. The Office of Inspector General declined to comment on ANs inquiry, and USAID did not respond to ANs request for comment. AECOM has been involved in the areas reconstruction efforts since 2014, when it was brought in by Palestinians to come up with yet another plan to restructure Gaza, according to reporting published in Vanity Fair. Around the time of the most recent fall 2024 award, AECOM posted a job for a Design ManagerWest Bank and Gaza (with an advertised salary range of between $140,000 and $200,000) that focused on improved water security projects in West Bank and Gaza. Aaron Cayer, an assistant professor of architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, wrote about the job posting as his contribution to Field Notes on Repair, a series published last fall by Places Journal. (His book about AECOM, Incorporating Architects: How American Architecture Became a Practice of Empire, will be published in June.) Cayer describes how large firms compete for commissions to both design initial new infrastructures and their postwar replacements. He wrote, This paradoxical economy of destruction and repair was established in the United States during the 20th century as architects began working for both the military and international aid organizations.Earlier this year, on an earnings call, AECOM CEO Troy Rudds message was that Trumps permitting reform outweighs agency cuts, according to Construction Dive. AECOMs stock (ACM) is down about 11 percent so far in 2025.In addition to providing humanitarian and health-related assistance to countries, USAIDs work included commissions for architects and engineers. (Ted Eytan/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)Other DOGE CutsA handful of other DOGE cuts relate to the built environment.A nearly $15 million contract was awarded to Tetra Tech for Architectural and Engineering (A&E) Services for the Secondary Education Expansion for Development in Malawi. This item, uploaded on March 1, yielded no savings. Tetra Tech did not respond to ANs request for comment.A $4 million contract to Green Powered Technology for A&E services related to infrastructure in Liberia was also uploaded on March 1, and no savings was listed. Green Powered Technology did not respond to ANs request for comment. Other USAID StoppagesBeyond DOGEs cancellations, the defunding will impact other projects. MASS Design Group was at work on a USAID-funded project that was suspended in late January. It provided a statement about the stoppage:MASS Design Group stopped work on a project in the Horn of Africa due to USAID funding cuts. The order to suspend the USAID-funded work was received by MASS and their jointly-appointed nonprofit partner on January 28, 2025, stating that the project was paused to assess programmatic efficiencies and consistency with United States foreign policy. The project would have funded the creation of a center to educate and train young men and women, providing them opportunity and hope, in effort to curb radicalization as the only means of upward mobility in society.MASS, whose name is an acronym for Model of Architecture Serving Society, is not naming the nonprofit partner in order to protect the nonprofits identity per their request, fearing retaliation from internal and foreign actors. U.S. military strikes in the region against ISIS targets further complicated the situation. The statement concludes: MASS is deeply committed to continue international built work that provides solutions to help some of the most vulnerable populations around the globe. Stantec also has extensive USAID experience. The company has supported USAID for over 20 years in its mission to drive global development and prosperity, an objective that resonates with Stantecs own commitment to addressing sustainable development around the globe, Loren Labovitch, vice president of Stantecs US International Development team, said in a 2021 press release for a five-year, $800 million contract. This award was in support of several USAID cross-cutting initiatives designed to help developing countries pursue less carbon intensive development, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and advance gender and social inclusion. Stantec will work closely with USAID and its partners to design and implement infrastructure interventions that incorporate appropriate climate risk mitigation measures, optimize the use of clean energy and energy efficient technologies, promote nature-based solutions where feasible, enable equitable access to project benefits, and improve womens economic and workforce development opportunities.A spokesperson for Stantec responded to ANs inquiry but ultimately was not able to provide an expert for comment. Stantecs stock (STN) is up about 5 percent so far this year.USAID Supporting ArchitectsIn select moments, USAID funded the transmission of architectural knowledge. As part of its Diaspora Invest project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ajla Aksamija, a professor and Distinguished Chair for Resilient Places at the School of Architecture at the University of Utah, led a four-day workshop on innovations in architecture. Held from December 9 to 13 last year, her lecture brought together students, academics, and professionals from the fields of architecture and construction. Then mentoring workshops were held with three architectural firms from Bosnia and Herzegovina, selected by the USAID.USAID also supported the development of climate-resilient guesthouse concepts in the Maldives, which included a two-day exhibition at the end of 2024.