The Trump administration will place the majority of the employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on mandatory furlough starting Sunday evening and will begin laying off at least 1,600 of them as it continues to dismantle the agency, which has been responsible for distributing billions in foreign aid.
As reported today by Politico, with the exception of some individuals responsible for “mission-critical issues,” all direct-hire USAID personnel will be placed on furlough globally starting Sunday at 11:59 PM, according to an email from the USAID administrator’s office sent to staff on Sunday afternoon, which was seen by POLITICO.
The email stated that approximately 2,000 employees would be affected. However, a version posted on the USAID website listed the number as 1,600.
This is the latest step in the Trump administration’s effort to reorganize foreign aid under the “America First” policy and rapidly shut down an agency that, for more than 60 years, has distributed everything from HIV medications to food for malnourished children.
President Donald Trump, his billionaire advisor Elon Musk, and congressional Republicans have accused the agency of funding progressive causes abroad, including LGBTQ+ initiatives.
The email to staff also stated that the agency was implementing what is referred to as a workforce reduction, starting with the firing of 2,000 USAID employees in the U.S.
Affected individuals would be notified on Sunday and would receive more information about their privileges and rights, the email said.
Around 600 staff members had been notified that they would be kept as essential workers in early February before a federal judge ruled against the immediate dismantling of the agency by the Trump administration.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, ended the injunction, ruling in favor of the administration.
