WASHINGTON – The administration under former President Donald Trump has accelerated its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), reaching what seems to be a conclusive stage. As of Monday, nearly all staff members worldwide were informed that they would be placed on leave, while at least 1,600 U.S.-based employees were notified of their termination.
This action represents a significant advancement in the agenda that Trump and his ally Elon Musk advocate, aimed at eliminating the six-decade-old agency as part of a broader strategy to downsize the federal government.
The decision was enacted following a federal judge’s ruling on Friday, which permitted the administration to proceed with plans to withdraw thousands of USAID workers from their positions both in the U.S. and internationally. District Judge Carl Nichols dismissed requests from employees seeking a temporary halt to the government’s intentions.
According to communications sent to USAID personnel, as of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, all direct hire staff, except for select personnel engaged in essential functions, core leadership, or special programs, would face administrative leave globally.
Concurrent with this, the agency initiated a process known as “reduction in force,” aimed at cutting approximately 2,000 roles based in the U.S. However, a later version of the notice, available on USAID’s website, lists a lower total of 1,600 job eliminations. The administration has not clarified this difference, and calls for comments to USAID and the State Department have gone unanswered.
Soon after the notice was distributed, several employees reported receiving individual termination notifications related to the reduction in force.
Deputy Administrator Pete Marocco, who is an appointee of Trump, indicated his intention to retain about 600 U.S.-based staffers temporarily, largely to facilitate travel arrangements for USAID personnel and their families currently stationed overseas.
This action intensifies a month-long initiative to dismantle the agency, which has involved closing its D.C. headquarters and terminating thousands of aid and development initiatives worldwide. A funding freeze on foreign assistance was later temporarily blocked by a judge, and both Trump and Musk have argued that USAID’s operations are wasteful and promote a left-wing agenda.
Lawsuits from government workers’ unions, USAID contractors, and other parties assert that the administration lacks the constitutional authority to abolish an independent agency or terminate congressionally funded programs without legislative approval.
These moves disrupt longstanding U.S. policies that recognize overseas aid and development as vital components for national security, aimed at stabilizing regions, economies, and forming alliances.
In addition to the mass notices of termination and leave, hundreds of USAID contractors have reportedly received generic termination letters that lack specific details about the individuals affected. This vagueness raises concerns among dismissed workers regarding the complexity of obtaining unemployment benefits.
A ruling from another judge revealed that, despite earlier orders to resume foreign aid distributions, the administration has continued to withhold vital funding. The recent decision by Judge Nichols also allowed the administration to initiate a 30-day deadline for USAID employees and their families who wish for their travel expenses to be covered by the government for a return home.
The judge expressed confidence in the administration’s assurances that workers stationed abroad could retain their positions while on leave beyond the 30-day timeframe if they opted to remain outside the U.S.
Foreign staff members have expressed concerns regarding the difficulties they may encounter during a transition back home, particularly those with children in school, properties to sell, or family members in need of care.
In its notice issued on Sunday, USAID affirmed its commitment to safeguarding its personnel overseas and assured that support and access to agency systems would continue for staff stationed abroad.
