WASHINGTON — Forced leaves have commenced in Washington and around the globe for the majority of employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This follows actions by federal workers’ associations that have turned to the courts in an effort to reverse the Trump administration’s orders which have severely curtailed the agency’s operations and U.S.-funded aid programs worldwide.
Under the current administration’s strategy, USAID is expected to operate with fewer than 300 workers, drastically reduced from thousands.
Sources within USAID, who requested anonymity due to an administration directive preventing discussions outside the agency, confirmed details of the plan presented to remaining senior officials on Thursday.
This downsizing marks a significant reduction from over 8,000 direct hires and contractors. Alongside an unspecified number of the approximately 5,000 locally hired employees abroad, the remaining staff will be responsible for the limited essential programs that will continue under the administration’s directive.
It remains uncertain if the reduction to 300 employees will be a permanent measure or temporary, potentially opening the door for more staff to return following a review of the aid and development programs that may be reinstated.
Beginning Friday, the administration has given nearly all USAID personnel stationed overseas a 30-day window to return to the U.S., covering their travel and moving expenses. Those choosing to remain beyond this period, unless granted a specific hardship waiver, may be responsible for their own costs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed during a visit to the Dominican Republic that the U.S. government remains committed to providing foreign aid.
“However, it will be aid that is strategically aligned with our national interests,” he stated to reporters.
The Trump administration, alongside initiatives led by significant budget-cutting proponents, has heavily targeted USAID, posing unprecedented challenges to federal operations and many of its programs.
Since the inauguration on January 20, a sweeping funding freeze has halted most of the agency’s global initiatives, placing nearly all employees on administrative leave or furlough. Discussions about abolishing USAID as an independent entity have also surfaced, suggesting a potential consolidation of remaining programs under the State Department.
Opposition from Democratic lawmakers and other groups has arisen, asserting that such actions lack legal standing without congressional approval.
This argument mirrors that of the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, who have filed a lawsuit in Washington to demand the reopening of USAID’s facilities, return staff to work, and restore funding.
The lawsuit emphasizes that officials “failed to recognize the dire consequences of their actions for American workers, the wellbeing of millions globally, and U.S. national interests.”
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