In Washington, employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), who were either dismissed or placed on indefinite leave due to the Trump administration’s plans to restructure the agency, made their way to the largely shut-down headquarters for their final visits on Thursday. Each was allotted only 15 minutes to gather their personal belongings, under the watchful eyes of federal officers.
Several staff members, visibly upset, departed with their remaining possessions packed into grocery bags and suitcases. Outside, supporters offered encouragement by clapping and honking car horns to uplift their spirits. A member of the crowd, burdened with bags, was moved to tears by the warm reception outside the building, where she was embraced by the gathering of supporters.
USAID, a major focus of a wide-ranging initiative led by Trump and his advisor Elon Musk, who spearheads the Department of Government Efficiency, aims to downsize the federal government significantly. The actions taken against USAID have left the organization with only a small fraction of its workforce operational. Trump and Musk argue, without offering evidence, that the agency’s programs do not align with their administrative goals, labeling them as unnecessary expenditure. This undertaking is atypical, primarily because it bypasses Congress, the body responsible for the agency’s establishment and funding.
Outside the now-vacant headquarters, federal officers stood ready to intercept returning USAID workers, accompanying them as they gathered their things. David Radcliffe, an Army veteran who spent 30 years at the Department of Defense, was one of those lending support. Holding a sign that read, “YOU Made America Great! Thank You USAID,” Radcliffe praised USAID’s international aid efforts, stating, “I’m shocked and dismayed. It makes no sense from a policy perspective.”
Despite encouragement to support departing staff with “clap outs” over the next few days, many employees fear retaliation due to a prohibition against public speech by the Trump administration. Randy Chester, vice president of the American Foreign Service Association, expressed gratitude to USAID workers for their service, acknowledging their sacrifices and contributions. Several organizations have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, contesting the suspension of foreign aid funds and the significant workforce reductions at USAID.
As of Monday, USAID placed 4,080 global workers on leave and announced a “reduction in force” that will impact another 1,600 employees, according to a statement from a State Department spokesperson. The effort to dismantle USAID starkly contrasts with existing Congressional grants of authorization and funding for the agency, as the Trump administration plans to cut over 90% of USAID’s contracts and $60 billion in assistance worldwide.
A report from the Congressional Research Service indicates that congressional approval is required for any major organizational changes to USAID, but Republican majorities have not challenged the administration’s decisions. Outside the former headquarters, flowers were arranged for employees to place at a memorial honoring the 99 USAID workers killed in the line of duty.
A notice on the agency’s website informed employees that those stationed elsewhere would have future opportunities to collect their belongings. It detailed the procedure for returning items and reminded departing workers to return USAID-issued property. Those on administrative leave were to hold on to their credentials until formally separated from the agency.
The memo was met with frustration, particularly due to its peculiar directives, including a prohibition against bringing specific weapons such as “spear guns” and “hand grenades.” Employees were provided with only a brief 15 minutes at their former workstations.
The Trump administration faces multiple lawsuits concerning the reduction of federal operations, yet temporary legal measures to pause the closure of USAID have not been successful. Nonetheless, a federal judge recently set a deadline for the administration to release billions in foreign aid funds after several nonprofit organizations contested the funding freeze imposed by a Trump executive order critiquing wasteful overseas programs. The Supreme Court later intervened, temporarily blocking the order initiated by the lower court, pending further review.
Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly condemned the actions against USAID, describing them as “unwarranted and unprecedented.” Connolly praised the agency’s workforce as instrumental in delivering world-class humanitarian relief, credited with saving millions of lives globally each year.
