In a shocking move that has rocked the international aid community, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to slash the staff of the US Agency for International Development (USAid) down to a bare bones crew of just 611 essential workers. This drastic reduction, set to take effect at midnight on Friday, would decimate the ranks of the agency that had over 10,000 employees worldwide as of 2023.
Federal employee unions have swiftly denounced the move as “unconstitutional and illegal,” filing a lawsuit on Thursday that seeks to block the administration from dismantling USAid. The American Foreign Service Association and American Federation of Government Employees argue that dissolving the congressionally-established agency exceeds the president’s authority under the Constitution.
The plaintiffs are seeking both a temporary and a permanent court order to restore the agency’s funding, reopen its offices, and prevent further actions to dissolve the agency.
Thousands of USAid Staff Put on Leave
According to the agency’s own website, as of 11:59 pm ET on Friday, “all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally,” aside from the 611 essential staff responsible for critical functions and programs. The rest of the agency’s more than 10,000 employees, about two-thirds of whom are stationed abroad, now face an uncertain future.
For USAid workers currently posted outside the US, the agency says it is preparing a plan to arrange and pay for their return travel to the US within 30 days. Case-by-case exceptions and extensions may be considered for personal hardship, safety concerns, or other reasons.
Trump Blasts “Fraudulent” Agency
Even as the clock ticks down to the staff reductions, President Trump continued his verbal assault on USAid Friday morning via social media. In typical bombastic fashion, he declared in all caps:
USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE WAY IN WHICH THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, SO MUCH OF IT FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE.
THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!
President Donald Trump
The president’s disdain for USAid is no secret. The extensive cutbacks to the agency are part of his broader “America First” agenda, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency.” Their stated aim is to dramatically reduce the federal workforce and spending.
Rubio Claims Control as USAid Chief
Meanwhile, a leadership struggle has emerged at the embattled agency. Earlier this week, employees found themselves locked out of USAid’s DC headquarters. In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared himself the acting administrator of USAid, even as the White House confirmed plans to subsume the agency into the State Department.
The turmoil at the very top echelons of USAid has only compounded the chaos and uncertainty facing its thousands of employees worldwide. Many fear the loss of their livelihoods, while others worry about the fate of the vulnerable populations they serve in over 100 countries.
Aid Workers Fear “Global Humanitarian Crisis”
The unions suing to save USAid have warned that its dissolution could trigger a “global humanitarian crisis.” As of 2024, the agency was responsible for delivering a staggering 42% of all UN-tracked humanitarian assistance around the world, with a budget of over $40 billion.
From disaster relief to global health to economic development, USAid’s work spans a wide range of critical programs in some of the poorest and most fragile regions. Aid workers and experts fear that suddenly pulling the plug on this sprawling operation will have devastating ripple effects.
US cedes ground to China with ‘self-inflicted wound’ of USAid shutdown, analysts say
The Guardian Headline
Some have also sounded the alarm that America’s drastic retreat from foreign aid will create a vacuum for strategic rivals like China to fill, ceding vital influence on the world stage. As one analyst put it, the USAid shutdown amounts to a “self-inflicted wound” to US interests abroad.
As the clock runs out on Friday, all eyes are now on the courts to see if they will step in and halt what the unions have called the “unconstitutional” demolition of USAid. Barring a last-minute judicial intervention, the agency faces the prospect of indefinite hibernation, with all but a skeleton staff sent home.
For the vulnerable communities who rely on USAid’s humanitarian assistance, and for the thousands of aid workers who have made it their life’s mission, the future looks bleak and uncertain. The world can only watch, wait and wonder what will become of America’s vast – but rapidly unraveling – foreign aid apparatus under the America First regime.
