The US aims to close the MCC

2025-04-24 17:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is reportedly winding down the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), according to a recording of a staff meeting and an email sent to staff, seen by Reuters.

The MCC was created to reduce poverty and promote economic growth worldwide. Kosovo is among the countries with which this agency cooperates.

The move to close the MCC is part of efforts by US President Donald Trump and his adviser, Musk, to shrink the federal government, arguing that American taxpayer money is being wasted.

MCC staff were told during a meeting on Wednesday that all of the agency's programs would be closed and staff numbers would be minimized, according to a recording of the meeting.

"Foreign aid is not a priority for the administration, so the MCC's work must end," Kyeh Kim, a senior official at MCC, told staff.

Officials from DOGE went to the agency last week and began talks with management, who are trying to save the agency, Kim said.

The MCC did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Politico first reported the move, citing an email sent to agency staff on Tuesday, which Reuters later saw. In the email, the nearly 300 workers are given until April 29 to choose voluntary early retirement or resign and receive pay through September — or face administrative leave. The Trump administration has dismantled Washington’s top aid agency, USAID, which administered about $40 billion in aid a year.

The MCC, which was created by the US Congress with the support of both Republicans and Democrats in 2004, has an annual budget of about $900 million. The agency works with developing countries on projects such as improving electricity supplies for businesses and improving road infrastructure so farmers can get their goods to market, according to the MCC website.

MCC has been cooperating with Kosovo since 2016.

Last April, the Government of Kosovo and MCC launched the implementation of the Compact Program, which aims to provide clean energy solutions. This program is worth $202 million from MCC and another $34.7 million as a contribution from Kosovo.

Compact agreements are five-year grants, and MCC has issued such programs to states that meet the criteria for eligibility for such programs.

Kosovo had reached an agreement with the MCC for the compact program in 2022. The main project of the program is that of energy storage. Through it, Kosovo is envisaged to have energy reserves through high-capacity batteries of 170 megawatts. These batteries will enable the provision of reserves of about 347 megawatts per hour.

MCC has also had other programs for economic development in Kosovo worth $50 million.

This US agency has also offered scholarships for women's education in the energy field./ Rel