WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant move by the Trump administration, thousands of workers from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been either fired or placed on leave. This decision is part of the administration’s broader efforts to dismantle the agency. The affected employees have a short window, specifically Thursday and Friday, to clear out their workspaces.
This week, USAID placed a total of 4,080 staffers on leave, impacting personnel stationed globally. Additionally, a “reduction in force” will affect another 1,600 employees, according to a State Department spokesperson. The move is a part of a large-scale campaign led by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative involving Trump adviser Elon Musk, aimed at significantly reducing the size of the federal government.
The actions taken against USAID have left only a small fraction of its employees in their roles. Both Trump and Musk have moved decisively to close down the foreign aid agency, arguing that its programs do not align with the Republican president’s agenda and claiming, without evidence, that its operations are wasteful. Unusually, this effort has not involved Congress, which originally authorized and funded the agency. A recent report from the Congressional Research Service highlighted that congressional authorization is typically required to “abolish, move, or consolidate USAID.” However, the Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate have not opposed the administration's approach.
The administration has announced plans to eliminate over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts, which equates to a drastic cut of $60 billion in U.S. assistance worldwide. The fate of the more than 5,600 USAID employees affected, including those at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, remains uncertain. Meanwhile, a notice on USAID’s website stated that staff at other locations would have the opportunity to collect personal belongings at a later date.
Affected employees were given specific instructions on when to retrieve their belongings, with security screenings in place. Each worker is allotted just 15 minutes at their former workstations and must return all USAID-issued assets. Those on administrative leave are instructed to retain their USAID-issued materials, including diplomatic passports, until they are formally separated from the agency.
The administration’s effort to reduce the federal workforce has sparked several lawsuits, but attempts to halt the shutdown of USAID have been unsuccessful. Nonetheless, a federal judge set a deadline for the administration to release billions in withheld U.S. foreign aid, although the Supreme Court temporarily blocked this order. Chief Justice John Roberts stated the order would remain on hold pending further review.
Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly expressed strong disapproval, describing the actions against USAID employees as “unwarranted and unprecedented.” Connolly emphasized that USAID is regarded as the “world’s premier development and foreign assistance agency,” responsible for saving millions of lives annually.
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