The Trump administration has announced plans to place nearly all US Agency for International Development (USAID) employees on leave worldwide and cut around 1,600 positions within the US.
According to an email from the Office of the Administrator, approximately 1,600 employees will be laid off as part of a “reduction in force” effort, the BBC reported.
This follows previous attempts by President Trump to dismiss thousands of USAID workers, which faced legal pushback. A federal judge had temporarily blocked the administration from dismantling the agency but ruled on Friday that the pause would not be permanent.
A notice sent to USAID employees, cited by AP, states that as of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all direct-hire personnel—except those handling mission-critical functions, core leadership, or specially designated programs—will be placed on administrative leave globally.
However, it remains unclear how many employees have been classified as essential under this exemption.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, has been pushing to scale back USAID, which has long been a key instrument of US foreign influence and international aid distribution.
USAID deputy administrator Pete Marocco, appointed by Trump to oversee the agency, stated that 600 US-based employees would remain to facilitate travel arrangements for USAID staff and their families abroad, AP reported.
