United States: On Sunday, the Trump administration announced that there would be a total paid administrative leave status for all USAID personnel while also eliminating 1600 US-based positions through reduction.
Elon Musk, through his Department of Government Efficiency, continues to advocate for the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which serves as the leading platform for delivering American foreign assistance and essential U.S. “soft power” operations abroad, as reported by Reuters.
Mass Layoffs and Administrative Leave
According to an email sent to one of the sacked employees that Reuters examined, “I regret to inform you that you are affected by a Reduction in Force action,” According to the email, everyone who received the notice would be released from government service on April 24.
The website of USAID revealed that effective at midnight Sunday U.S. Eastern Time, all staff members except essential operations personnel would begin paid administrative leave, followed by the elimination of 1,600 direct hire positions within USAID‘s U.S. department.
The Reuters team obtained an early notification sent to staff, which indicated that 2,000 U.S. positions would be eliminated.
A request for comment from the White House remains unanswered.
Court Ruling and Union Opposition
A federal court ruling on Friday allowed the Trump administration to start putting thousands of workers at USAID on administrative leave against the opposition of federal government unions who have filed litigation against this move.
Former senior USAID officials calculated that 4,600 career U.S. Civil Service and Foreign Service staff members would receive administrative placement following the notification.
“This administration and Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio are shortsighted in cutting into the expertise and unique crisis response capacity of the U.S.,” said Marcia Wong, one of the former officials. “When disease outbreaks occur, populations displaced, these USAID experts are on the ground and first deployed to help stabilize and provide aid.”
Impact of International Aid Freeze
During his first day in office on January 20, Trump implemented a 90-day ban on international aid, which blocked funds that helped prevent hunger and diseases while supplying sanctuary to global populations displaced by war.
The administration has provided $5.3 billion worth of exemptions from the freeze, but these exceptions mostly focus on security and counter-narcotics programs based on a Reuters review of exemption documentation, as reported by Reuters.
Prior to the freeze, USAID managed around $40 billion in programs while receiving less than $100 million in exemptions.