The U.S. Agency for International Development has notified Congress that it possesses $19 billion in funds designated to cover expenses related to closing out programs that were terminated last year, according to a congressional notification obtained in late January.

The notification details the financial resources available as USAID works to wind down operations following the agency's shutdown. The $19 billion represents funds earmarked specifically for closure-related costs and program termination expenses.

Critics of the agency's closure have called for redirecting these substantial funds toward humanitarian and development programs that could save lives rather than using the money solely for administrative shutdown procedures. The debate highlights tensions over how to utilize the significant remaining resources.

USAID, which has historically managed billions in foreign aid and development assistance, terminated numerous international programs as part of its closure process. The agency's shutdown represents a major shift in U.S. international development policy and operations.

The congressional notification provides official documentation of the financial scope involved in shuttering the federal agency and its extensive international programming.