In the latest, United States President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified its crackdown on the US Agency for International Development (USAID), palcing employees on leave worldwide and eliminate close to 1,600 positions in the US, a notice stated.
According to the media reports, in an email to USAID employees by the Office of the Administrator, about 1,600 employees will also be laid off in a “reduction in force” effort. The move comes following the US President Donald Trump tried to fire thousands of ‘USAID’ employees initially but faced legal challenges.
A federal judge had blocked the Trump’s administration from abolishing the USAID, but ruled on Friday that the pause would not be permanent.
What’s Happening with USAID?
The US President has openly mocked administrations for what he states as reckless spending, pointing to the nearly $40 billion in foreign aid disbursed last year alone. Notably, on his first day back in office, he implemented a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance, a decision that forced thousands of aid programs to shut down and led to mass layoffs. Four days later, Trump-appointed USAID chief ‘Pete Marocco’ issued stricter guidelines that further tightened funding flows.
Legal Green Light for Job Cuts
The latest move of the administration comes following US District Judge Carl Nichols rejected lawsuits seeking to block the layoffs. A notification sent to USAID employees confirmed that all direct-hire personnel, except those in mission-critical roles, were placed on administrative leave as of 11:59 p.m. EST on February 23.
A reduction-in-force order has started eliminating 1,600 jobs, with more cuts expected. Last week, hundreds of contractors were already axed, receiving anonymous termination letters that omitted their names and positions.
USAID Headquarters Shut Down
The push to take apart ‘USAID’ has also seen its Washington headquarters shuttered, with employees stopped from entering. The agency’s official website and social media accounts have been taken offline, erasing its digital presence overnight.
Foreign staffers placed worldwide face uncertainty, as the administration has given them a 30-day time to return to the U.S. with government-paid travel. Trump and Musk have long accused USAID of being a corrupt company that misuses US taxpayer money under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Musk has called it a “criminal organization,” saying that American funds should not be wasted on foreign projects. The administration claims that the freeze on foreign aid has pressured recipient countries into offering more favorable trade and security deals to the US.
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