On Sunday, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced the termination of 2,000 positions at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), with the majority of the remaining workforce placed on administrative leave worldwide. This decision follows a federal court ruling that permitted the administration to proceed with the removal of thousands of USAID employees from their roles both domestically and internationally. US District Judge Carl Nichols denied requests to extend a temporary stay on the government’s plan, which was challenged in a lawsuit by USAID staff, thereby allowing the administration to move forward with its strategy. Official communications reviewed by The Associated Press indicated that as of 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, all direct hire personnel, with the exception of those in mission-critical roles, core leadership positions, or specially designated programs, would be placed on administrative leave. This action is part of a larger initiative by the administration to reduce USAID’s operations, which has already resulted in the closure of its Washington headquarters and the cessation of numerous aid and development projects globally.
President Trump, along with his cost-cutting advisor Elon Musk, has consistently criticized foreign aid programs, labeling them as wasteful and suggesting they are aligned with a liberal agenda.In addition to the layoffs and orders for administrative leave, numerous contractors associated with USAID reportedly received anonymous termination letters over the weekend. Copies of these letters, acquired by the Associated Press, indicate that the absence of specific names or job descriptions may hinder the ability of affected employees to secure unemployment benefits. As the administration continues its restructuring of USAID, a separate federal lawsuit contesting the freeze on foreign assistance has resulted in a different judge issuing a temporary injunction against the withholding of funds. The court’s ruling last week mandated that the administration must reinstate at least a portion of the aid funding allocated for global programs.The Trump administration’s sweeping changes to USAID have faced significant backlash from international aid organizations and lawmakers, who caution that the sudden withdrawal of funding and personnel could severely impact global humanitarian initiatives.
