Following a recent legal ruling, the Trump administration has placed most USAID employees on administrative leave and announced further layoffs, resulting in significant alterations to the agency's operations and a potential impact on global humanitarian aid initiatives.
Trump Administration Places USAID Employees on Administrative Leave as Cuts Intensify
Trump Administration Places USAID Employees on Administrative Leave as Cuts Intensify
The Trump administration has put the majority of USAID workers on administrative leave, while also initiating layoffs, as part of a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce and reshape America's foreign aid strategy.
The Trump administration has recently announced that most employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have been placed back on administrative leave, starting at midnight on Sunday. This decision affects approximately 2,000 employees who are facing layoffs as part of a broader "reduction in force" strategy, according to an internal email shared with CBS News.
These developments follow President Donald Trump's previous attempts to eliminate a significant number of USAID positions, which faced legal challenges. A federal judge had temporarily halted the administration's initiatives to downsize the agency but ruled on Friday that the pause would not remain in effect. The email sent to USAID staff specified that certain "designated personnel," including those crucial for core functions and leadership positions, would retain their roles, although the exact number of those deemed critical has yet to be disclosed.
Additionally, the administration indicated that it would provide funding for voluntary return travel for overseas employees. Judge Carl Nichols allowed the Trump administration to proceed with its intentions to reduce the workforce, dismissing the urgent appeals from concerned employees to maintain their positions. The decision marks another step in Trump's ongoing campaign to shrink the federal workforce and reduce expenditures—an initiative reportedly led by famed entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Trump has voiced his discontent with America's extensive spending on foreign aid, branding USAID as ineffective in meeting his "America First" policy. During a conservative convention outside Washington DC, Trump stated, "We've also effectively ended the left-wing scam known as USAID," and revealed plans to repurpose the agency's former building to accommodate the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
According to the Congressional Research Service, USAID previously employed around 10,000 individuals, primarily stationed overseas. The recent cutbacks have already led to the suspension of countless programs globally since January, raising concerns among experts about the ensuing ramifications on global health and humanitarian efforts. Former USAID chief Gayle Smith cautioned against the implications of these changes, stating that the U.S. risks sending a dangerous message that it is indifferent to the well-being of people in need and may be perceived as an unreliable partner in global aid.
As advocacy groups and representatives from fifty countries express concern over the USAID freeze, the true extent of the impact on international humanitarian efforts remains to be seen.
