The main office of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington was abruptly closed on Monday, and staff were notified via email shortly after midnight not to report to work, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“According to instructions from Agency leaders, the USAID headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, February 3, 2025. Staff normally assigned to work at USAID headquarters will be working remotely tomorrow, with the exception of personnel with essential field duties and building maintenance, who will be contacted individually by senior leadership,” the email stated, a copy of which was obtained by CNN.
This marks the latest troubling sign for the international aid agency, which has a long history and has been targeted by President Donald Trump and efforts by Elon Musk to reform the federal government.
In a conversation on X Spaces on Monday morning, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk said that Trump agreed the agency should be “shut down” after several days of speculation about its future, as its funding was frozen, and dozens of staff were suspended. Trump has stated that USAID is “run by a group of radical fanatics, and we are getting rid of them.”
Over the weekend, two senior USAID security officials were administratively suspended for refusing to grant access to the agency’s systems for members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), even though DOGE personnel threatened to call law enforcement, according to sources familiar with the situation who spoke to CNN.
USAID logos and photos showcasing the agency’s humanitarian work worldwide were removed from its offices last week, according to various sources.
“All visual materials have been removed. These were large-scale photos of our work in developing countries, which were displayed in our lobby, conference rooms, communal kitchens, and hallways,” said a USAID employee.
“An order was also sent to departments and individual offices to remove all USAID artwork and signage.”
Another USAID employee told CNN: “They’ve taken down the photos from the walls, and half of our colleagues are missing because they’ve been suspended. Everyone feels like they’re walking around with a target on their back.”
A source working in a separate USAID building told CNN they had not received any information on whether they should report to work on Monday.
When asked if their department leaders seemed to have more information about the agency’s future, the source said: “All our senior leaders have been dismissed.”
Around 60 senior USAID officials were suspended last week on charges of attempting to bypass Trump’s executive order freezing foreign aid for 90 days. Many other lower-ranking employees and contractors have also been suspended, according to various sources.
USAID was created in 1961 during President John F. Kennedy’s administration and serves as the humanitarian arm of the U.S. government. The agency distributes billions of dollars annually around the world to help alleviate poverty, treat diseases, and respond to hunger and natural disasters. It also promotes democracy building and development by supporting non-governmental organizations, independent media, and social initiatives.
