Trump sacks 2,000 USAID employees in the US

The Trump administration announced Sunday it is eliminating 2,000 positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and placing nearly all remaining staff worldwide on administrative leave.

The move follows Friday’s federal court decision by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols to allow the administration to proceed with its workforce reduction plan, marking a significant escalation in the month-long effort to dismantle the agency.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Sunday for comment.

The restructuring comes amid broader administration efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial agency created by executive order, to reorganize federal agencies.

USAID’s global operations, which include managing epidemics, addressing food insecurity, and providing education funding, play a crucial role in U.S. foreign policy. The administration has revealed plans to absorb USAID’s functions into the State Department eventually.

Effective 11:59 p.m. EST Sunday, February 23, 2025, most USAID staff will be placed on administrative leave globally, except those designated for mission-critical functions and core leadership.

The agency’s Washington headquarters has been closed, with thousands of aid and development programs worldwide shutting down. Overseas personnel must return to the U.S. within 30 days at government expense. Contractors have received unnamed termination letters, which workers warn could complicate unemployment benefits claims.

While one judge has temporarily blocked the foreign assistance freeze, requiring restoration of program funding, Judge Nichols determined that emergency communication provisions, including two-way radios and a panic button app, adequately address safety concerns for overseas staff. (Newsweek)