The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced that most of its employees will either be placed on leave or dismissed by midnight on Sunday as part of the Trump administration’s broader plan to reduce government spending.
According to a notice on USAID’s website, approximately 1,600 U.S.-based employees will lose their jobs under a “reduction-in-force” initiative. Meanwhile, all other direct hires worldwide—except those handling critical operations, leadership roles, or specially designated programs—will be placed on administrative leave.
This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize USAID, which employs over 10,000 personnel and manages a wide range of humanitarian and development programs globally.
Earlier this month, USAID announced plans to place all staff on administrative leave, a decision that faced legal challenges. However, a federal judge lifted the injunction on Friday, allowing the administration to proceed with the restructuring.
In a statement on Sunday, the agency confirmed that employees expected to continue working would be notified by management by 5:00 PM (2200 GMT). Additionally, USAID assured that travel costs for overseas-based staff returning home would be covered.
“In the coming week, we will provide details on retrieving personal belongings from former USAID workspaces and returning government-issued devices,” the statement read.
Trump and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, have claimed that USAID is plagued by inefficiencies and financial mismanagement, though concrete evidence has not been provided to support these allegations.
With an annual budget exceeding $40 billion, USAID funds various global initiatives, from governance programs to emergency food aid. While the agency has faced scrutiny over administrative expenses and the effectiveness of some projects, it has long been a key instrument of U.S. diplomatic influence, leveraging humanitarian assistance as a form of “soft power” worldwide.
