In a dramatic move, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that most of its employees will be placed on administrative leave or terminated by midnight on Sunday, as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to cut government spending.
According to a notice on USAID’s website, approximately 1,600 US-based workers will be laid off in a reduction-in-force effort. Additionally, all other staff directly hired by USAID worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those involved in mission-critical functions, core leadership roles, or specially designated programs.
This decision marks a significant step in Trump’s campaign to dismantle USAID—a decades-old agency with over 10,000 employees that manages a wide range of humanitarian and development programs across the globe. Earlier this month, USAID had announced plans to place all its staff on administrative leave, a move that faced legal challenges until a federal judge on Friday lifted an order pausing these cuts.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency indicated that remaining staff who are expected to continue working will receive further instructions by 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) that day. USAID also confirmed that it would cover return travel expenses for employees based overseas. “In the coming week, we will provide details on how to retrieve personal items from the former USAID workspaces and return government-issued devices,” the statement said.
The Trump administration, supported by billionaire donor Elon Musk, has accused USAID of being rife with fraud—allegations that have yet to be substantiated with concrete evidence. With a budget exceeding $40 billion, mandated by Congress, USAID’s programs range from governance initiatives to life-saving food assistance. Although the agency has long faced criticism over its overhead costs and questions about the efficacy of some programs, it has also served as a crucial instrument of US soft power on the global stage.
This latest round of cuts is part of a broader plan to overhaul federal spending, reflecting the administration’s determination to reduce waste and streamline government operations.
