The Trump administration has announced sweeping changes at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), significantly reducing its workforce and halting operations for many of its civil servants.
News Nation Now reported that the changes include placing all civil servants on administrative leave and a plan to cut 2,000 staff members. On February 2, the administration initially placed all USAID civil servants on administrative leave.
This decision was temporarily halted by a court order issued six days later. However, following a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, the administration moved forward with its plans.
After Judge Nichols' ruling, the notice of administrative leave and staff reductions was officially issued by the Office of the Administrator, although Marco Rubio, the acting administrator's name was not on the order.
According to reports from inside the agency, this move has led to the termination of many contracted employees. This has had a particularly severe impact on the bureaus responsible for humanitarian assistance, with staff reductions estimated between 40 to 60 percent.
A USAID official, speaking under the condition of anonymity, expressed despair, stating, "There is no one left to do any work."
Another added, "If most civil servants in D.C. go back on admin leave tonight, you will have a few handfuls of civil servants left, and they cannot do the work – in skill set or numbers – of the bureau."
The effect of these cuts is profound, with one official lamenting, "We are, for now, dead. Last night and all week we lost centuries of collective experience."
Amid these drastic staffing changes, President Trump has tasked Elon Musk and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency to investigate USAID for alleged wasteful and fraudulent spending. This investigation aligns with the administration’s critique of what it views as wasteful spending and liberal bias in U.S. foreign assistance.
These dramatic shifts come after a long period of tense relations between USAID and the Trump administration. Some staff members have been informed that their roles are deemed "mission-critical" and thus exempt from these cuts. However, the criteria for these exemptions have not been publicly detailed.
Moreover, USAID staff stationed overseas have been given options concerning their return to the U.S. Although they are not immediately required to return, they are being offered voluntary repatriation with certain benefits.
This significant reduction in staff and the suspension of many operations at USAID raises concerns about the U.S.'s ability to maintain its global humanitarian efforts.
The administrative leave affects a group of highly skilled and thoroughly vetted civil servants, some of whom were expected to serve at USAID for decades.
The long-term implications of these measures on USAID's projects worldwide remain unclear. As the agency grapples with these sudden changes, the global community watches closely, concerned about the continuity of essential humanitarian and development programs supported by the U.S.
The decision to slash USAID's workforce and suspend its operations continues to evoke strong reactions from various stakeholders, highlighting the critical role the agency plays in international aid and development fields.