US to Set Up 12 Regional Disaster Response Hubs

New Bureau to Consolidate Emergency Humanitarian Aid Operations

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:18am

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The U.S. State Department is establishing 12 regional hubs to coordinate disaster and emergency humanitarian responses under a new Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response. The move comes as the administration consolidates functions previously handled by the now-dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Why it matters

The new regional hubs are part of a broader shift in how the U.S. government provides foreign disaster and humanitarian assistance, with the closure of USAID and the creation of a centralized bureau to oversee these operations. This reorganization has drawn criticism from some aid organizations, who are concerned about the potential impact on the delivery of emergency relief.

The details

The new Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response will be based in Washington with around 200 staff, but on-the-ground operations will be run from the 12 regional hubs located in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. The administration has also announced a $2 billion contribution to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, through which future assistance will be channeled.

  • The State Department announced the new regional hubs on March 20, 2026.

The players

Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response

A new bureau within the U.S. State Department that will oversee disaster and emergency humanitarian response operations, consolidating functions previously handled by USAID.

U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The U.N. agency that will receive a $2 billion contribution from the U.S. government to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to specific countries and groups in need.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

The former U.S. government agency that previously handled foreign disaster and humanitarian assistance, but has now been dismantled as part of this reorganization.

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What’s next

The new regional hubs are expected to be operational by the end of 2026, consolidating U.S. emergency response capabilities under the new Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response.

The takeaway

This shift in how the U.S. government provides foreign disaster and humanitarian aid reflects the administration's broader efforts to centralize and streamline foreign assistance operations, though the changes have raised concerns among some aid organizations about the potential impact on the delivery of emergency relief.