The Trump administration announced on Sunday that most USAID personnel, except leaders and critical staff, will be placed on paid administrative leave, with 1,600 positions in the U.S. being cut.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency spearheaded efforts to scale back the U.S. Agency for International Development, a key tool for American foreign aid and global influence. An email sent to affected employees stated they would be terminated from federal service effective April 24.
USAID’s website confirmed that just before midnight on Sunday, all direct hires — except essential workers — would be put on leave. An earlier notice mentioned about 2,000 U.S. jobs would be eliminated.
On Friday, a federal judge allowed the Trump administration to proceed with placing thousands of USAID workers on leave, despite ongoing lawsuits by government employee unions accusing the administration of dismantling the agency.
Two former senior USAID officials estimated that most of the 4,600 USAID staff — both Civil Service and Foreign Service — would be affected.
Critics, including former official Marcia Wong, warned that gutting USAID undermines U.S. crisis response capabilities. “When disease outbreaks happen or populations are displaced, these experts are the first responders,” she said.
Trump had previously ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid starting January 20, pausing funds for programs combatting starvation, disease, and displacement.
While $5.3 billion in exceptions were approved — mostly for security and counter-narcotics — USAID programs received less than $100 million, a sharp drop from the $40 billion the agency managed annually before the freeze.
Also read: IRS to Fire 6,000 Workers Amid Trump’s Government Downsizing
