WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced plans to withdraw nearly all personnel from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signaling an impending halt to a decades-long initiative aimed at enhancing American security through efforts to combat hunger, promote education, and manage public health crises. This dramatic decision reflects the administration’s ongoing dismantling of USAID, spearheaded by political appointees from President Trump’s earlier term and efficiency teams associated with billionaire Elon Musk, who have criticized much of the agency’s overseas expenditures as unnecessary.
The directive will take effect just before midnight on Friday, mandating that direct hires working overseas—many of whom have already started preparing for potential layoffs—must return to the U.S. within 30 days unless they are classified as essential personnel. Contractors who do not fit into the essential category will also face termination, according to the announcement.
Speculation of this significant move had circulated for days, positioning it as the most drastic measure among various options suggested to streamline USAID’s operations within the State Department. Other potential changes included the closure of smaller USAID offices and a partial scaling back of larger missions.
USAID has already seen numerous layoffs, while several international programs have been suspended following Trump’s implementation of a comprehensive freeze on foreign aid. Despite protests from Democratic lawmakers, the agency has become a focal point for budget reductions proposed by the administration and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at minimizing the federal government’s footprint.
This spending freeze has hampered U.S.-backed aid and development initiatives globally, significantly reduced senior agency leadership and workforce through furloughs and terminations, and closed the agency’s Washington headquarters, causing staff members disruption, including the removal of computer equipment. Musk even boasted about the extensive cuts made at USAID on social media.
The large-scale withdrawal of staff, both domestically and internationally, jeopardizes billions allocated for projects across approximately 120 countries. This includes crucial security support for allies like Ukraine and essential development initiatives aimed at providing clean water, vocational training, and educational opportunities, particularly for girls under Taliban control in Afghanistan.
The U.S. remains the largest humanitarian donor globally, dedicating less than 1% of its budget to foreign assistance, a smaller fraction than many other nations. Consequently, health initiatives recognized for eradicating diseases like polio and smallpox, as well as a successful HIV/AIDS program that saved millions of lives in Africa, have also been suspended. In addition, responses to health crises, such as the recent Ebola outbreaks in Uganda, have been halted.
Due to the abrupt cessation of USAID operations, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of food and medical supplies already in transit are now stranded at ports. Critics argue that USAID operates under laws that designate it as an independent agency, thus preventing its closure without congressional consent. Bi-partisan advocates emphasize that the work of USAID is vital in countering global adversarial influences, including those from Russia and China, while enhancing international partnerships.
Pulling staff and their families back at this early stage could result in significant travel and relocation expenses, likely costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Employees facing layoffs include both foreign-service and civil-service officials who are typically protected from arbitrary dismissal.
The American Foreign Service Association, representing U.S. diplomats, has expressed disapproval of the administration’s decision and is considering legal avenues to challenge its implementation. Meanwhile, local USAID employees lack similar protections, finding themselves excluded from the federal voluntary buyout options.
As fears of layoffs escalated, many USAID staff and their families found themselves at a crossroads, grappling with difficult decisions about withdrawing their children from school mid-semester or relinquishing pets with the impending chaotic relocations. Although the administration offered to review requests for extended time on a case-by-case basis, uncertainty remained regarding who would handle such claims amidst a significant reduction in staff.
In an additional log of the agency’s tumult, Musk’s teams had taken USAID’s website offline for a period, only to restore it with the announcement regarding the personnel recall or termination. This development coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s tour of five Central American nations, where he met with embassy and USAID representatives in El Salvador and Guatemala earlier in the week, albeit with the press barred from those specific meet-and-greet events.
Rubio maintained his stance supporting foreign aid during a news briefing, asserting that while foreign assistance is essential, it needs to align with national interests. The online notice highlighted that only employees handling “mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs” would remain, with notifications going out to those exempted by Thursday afternoon.
In conclusion, the announcement concluded with a message of gratitude for the service rendered by the affected staff members, introducing uncertainty into the future of USAID and its international initiatives.
