WASHINGTON — On Sunday, the Trump administration announced plans to place nearly all staff members at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave and to eliminate around 1,600 jobs based in the United States. This decision marks one of the most significant efforts by President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk to drastically reduce the size of the long-established agency, which has been in operation for six decades, as part of a broader initiative to diminish federal government operations.
This action follows a recent ruling by a federal judge who permitted the administration to proceed with a strategy aimed at removing thousands of USAID employees from their roles both domestically and internationally. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols dismissed a request from affected employees to halt the government’s operations temporarily.
According to internal communications shared with USAID personnel, the administration plans to place all direct hire workers on administrative leave by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Exemptions will be made for key individuals involved in essential functions, core leadership roles, and specifically designated programs. Additionally, the agency has indicated a start to its workforce reduction, initially estimating the elimination of 2,000 jobs, although a later version of the notice revised this figure downward to 1,600. The reason behind this discrepancy has not been clarified by the administration, and both USAID and the State Department have yet to respond to requests for comments.
The layoffs signify that many workers based in Washington who are being put on leave may soon find themselves without positions. Pete Marocco, the deputy administrator at USAID appointed by Trump, has suggested retaining around 600 predominantly domestic employees temporarily, mainly to manage the travel arrangements for agency staff and their families stationed abroad.
This recent development intensifies a month-long initiative to dismantle the agency. This has involved closing the headquarters in Washington as well as ceasing several aid and development projects across the globe. The administration had also implemented a temporary freeze on all foreign assistance, although a subsequent court ruling has since halted that funding freeze. Trump and Musk argue that USAID’s initiatives are inefficient and promote a progressive agenda.
Lawsuits filed by various government workers’ unions, along with USAID contractors and others, assert that the administration lacks the authority—under constitutional provisions—to abolish an independent agency or any congressionally sanctioned programs without the consent of Congress. The administration’s actions are a stark shift from long-standing U.S. policy that emphasized the role of overseas aid and development in enhancing national security by helping to stabilize regions and fostering international alliances.
Notices regarding terminations and leaves have been compounded by hundreds of USAID contractors receiving generic termination letters that lacked specific names, as reported in documentation that has been reviewed. This uniform approach to notifying contractors has raised concerns among impacted employees regarding potential difficulties in obtaining unemployment benefits due to the absence of personalized details in the letters.
Additionally, a judge involved in a separate lawsuit related to USAID stated that the administration has continued to withhold foreign aid despite a prior order that mandated a halt on the funding freeze. This ruling, issued by Judge Nichols on Friday, has also enabled the administration to initiate a planned 30-day timeline during which USAID staffers and their families may return to the U.S. at government expense. The judge expressed his satisfaction with assurances from the Trump administration that workers stationed abroad would be permitted to maintain their positions while on leave, even if they opt to stay overseas beyond the initial 30-day period.
Amid these changes, foreign staff members are expressing apprehension that ongoing funding issues and the substantial reduction of headquarters personnel may complicate their safe and orderly transitions back home. This concern is particularly salient for those with children enrolled in schools, properties to sell, or family members with health issues. In response to these challenges, USAID emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of its personnel overseas and reassured staff members that support and access to agency resources would remain available for those stationed abroad.
