The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced that it is placing its staff in the U.S. and worldwide on administrative leave while recalling employees from overseas assignments.
In a statement on its website, which reappeared on Tuesday, the agency said the leave would take effect shortly before midnight on February 7, 2024.
The directive applies to “all USAID direct hire personnel… except those responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and designated programs,” the statement read, adding, “Thank you for your service.”
The decision is part of a broader effort led by former President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk to downsize the U.S. government, a move that has sparked outrage among Democrats and human rights groups.
USAID provides funding for health and emergency programs in approximately 120 countries, playing a key role in U.S. global influence, particularly in competition with rivals such as China, where Musk has significant business interests.
Musk has labeled USAID “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and vowed to shut it down. He has also accused the agency—without providing evidence—of engaging in “rogue CIA work” and funding “bioweapon research, including COVID-19, that killed millions.”
As the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk has substantial government contracts and was the largest financial backer of Trump’s campaign. He claims to have personally discussed and cleared the move with the former president.
The push to curtail USAID aligns with long-standing conservative narratives arguing that U.S. funds should prioritize domestic needs over foreign aid.
USAID states that its mission is to “end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing U.S. security and prosperity.”
As of 2023, Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Jordan were the top three recipients of USAID funding, according to the Congressional Research Service. Other major beneficiaries included the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Syria.
Ukraine, in particular, has received substantial assistance, with the U.S. government allocating over $16 billion in macroeconomic support.
Established in 1961, USAID operates on a budget exceeding $40 billion—a fraction of the nearly $7 trillion spent annually by the U.S. government.
The United States remains the world’s largest provider of official development assistance, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
AFP
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