USAID Staff to Be Placed on Leave Amid Trump Administration’s Aid Cuts

Thousands of workers at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be on leave beginning Friday evening, the agency announced. An official statement states that all direct-hire employees will be impacted, with the exception of those working on mission-critical projects, in core leadership positions, or on programs that have been specifically designated.

Although the precise number of affected jobs is yet unknown, USAID has promised that workers will be notified by Thursday afternoon.

The Trump administration has long argued that USAID misallocates funds and should better align with the president’s policy agenda. These cuts have sparked widespread criticism, particularly from Democratic lawmakers and USAID personnel, who warn that the reductions could endanger lives and weaken national security.

President Donald Trump’s previous decision to freeze foreign assistance has already disrupted global aid efforts, with several countries experiencing the consequences. USAID, which has been operational since 1961, provides humanitarian support to over 100 nations and employs approximately 10,000 people, with two-thirds stationed abroad. The agency operates on an annual budget of around $40 billion, constituting 0.6% of federal expenditures.

In order to expedite the repatriation of abroad troops within 30 days, USAID has announced that it will work with the U.S. Department of State. Official notices will be sent to employees who are exempt from the directive by Thursday at 3:00 PM EDT (8:00 PM GMT).

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This action is a component of larger government reorganization initiatives that the Trump administration is supervising in collaboration with Elon Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency. Haiti is one of the countries impacted by the aid freeze; according to the UN, the United States decided to stop providing $13.3 million in aid. On Wednesday, however, the U.S. State Department granted an exemption for $40.7 million in funds intended for an international security assistance mission and Haiti’s national police.

Democrats have united against the administration’s efforts, calling them a threat to American power abroad and unlawful. Numerous USAID staff members were placed on paid administrative leave on Tuesday, with emails telling them to stay reachable by phone and email but limiting their access to USAID facilities.

Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has openly stated that USAID should be shut down completely since it is “beyond repair.” Critics contend that the agency’s elimination would have disastrous effects for the world’s most vulnerable communities. Prosthetic limbs for Ukrainian soldiers, demining areas affected by conflict, and halting the spread of illnesses like Ebola are some of USAID’s projects.

An HIV patient in Nigeria voiced worry about the possible loss of USAID-funded free antiretroviral drugs.

. “I’m scared about what will happen. My next dose is due in April, but I don’t know if I’ll get it,” she told the BBC.

There have been rumors about USAID’s total disintegration due to the administration’s efforts to combine it with the State Department. A possible move toward more stringent government oversight was hinted at earlier this week when Marco Rubio was appointed acting head of USAID. But it would be difficult to close USAID completely without congressional permission.

Former USAID staffer Senator Andy Kim denounced the changes, describing the organization as a “vital foreign policy tool.” He cautioned that taking it down would jeopardize both American competitiveness abroad and national security.

Many people are keeping a careful eye on how these choices will affect U.S. foreign policy as well as the millions of people who depend on American humanitarian aid across the world as the situation develops.

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Source: BBC News