In a significant development, approximately 2,000 employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) are set to be laid off by Sunday. Additionally, a substantial portion of the remaining full-time staff is expected to be placed on administrative leave overnight, according to an email sent to the workforce.
The email, sent to employees at 2:42 p.m. ET and obtained by CNN, stated, “All USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally.” The leave is scheduled to commence at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Concurrently, USAID is moving forward with a Reduction-in-Force initiative that will impact around 2,000 personnel stationed in the United States, as highlighted in the email. Affected employees will receive specific notifications on Sunday, and those deemed essential will be informed by 5 p.m. ET.
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), one of the unions representing USAID personnel, expressed disappointment over the administration’s decision. AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi criticized the move, stating, “Time and again, our members have shared how these reckless choices and the dehumanizing rhetoric directed at them have caused untold harm to their personal and professional lives.”
This decision marks a significant blow to the federal agency known for providing humanitarian assistance worldwide. CNN previously reported that this development follows a federal judge's decision on Friday to dissolve a temporary restraining order that had blocked the government from placing thousands of the agency’s employees on leave. The Trump administration’s actions continued into the weekend, affecting employees at USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, among others.
This story has been updated with new reporting to reflect the latest events regarding the situation at USAID.
