Thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees, affected by mass layoffs or administrative leave under the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency, have been given a short window on Thursday and Friday to clear their workspaces.
On Monday, USAID placed 4,080 employees on administrative leave, with an additional 1,600 workers set to be laid off under a “reduction in force” order, according to a State Department spokesperson in an email to Associated Press.
USAID has been one of the primary targets of President Donald Trump’s sweeping government downsizing initiative, led by his adviser Elon Musk. The administration has rapidly moved to shut down the foreign aid agency, dismissing its programs as misaligned with Trump’s agenda and claiming—without evidence—that its work is unnecessary.
Congressional approval is required to fully dissolve, relocate, or consolidate USAID, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report. However, with Republican majorities in both chambers remaining silent, the administration has already cut over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and slashed $60 billion in U.S. global assistance funding.
The full impact on USAID’s Washington headquarters remains unclear, but displaced employees abroad will reportedly have an opportunity to retrieve personal belongings at a later date. A notice on USAID’s website details security procedures for employees returning to collect their items, while those placed on administrative leave are instructed to retain agency-issued materials, including diplomatic passports, until further notice.
