The Trump administration has ordered nearly all USAID direct-hire employees to go on leave. This decision is part of a broader push to shrink government agencies.
Starting Friday, only employees handling critical operations, leadership roles, and select programs will remain on duty. USAID also announced that overseas personnel must return within 30 days.
Limited Exceptions Allowed
USAID will consider exceptions for employees facing hardships. The agency stated, “For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons.” More details on the exception process will be provided soon.
USAID Faces Possible Shutdown
USAID employs over 10,000 people, with two-thirds stationed abroad. The Trump administration is now considering shutting it down and shifting its functions to the State Department. When asked if he planned to “wind down” the agency, Trump replied, “I think so.”
Elon Musk Backs Cost-Cutting Move
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he is serving as USAID’s acting administrator. Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk has pushed for its dismantling. Without evidence, he called USAID a “criminal organization” and claimed it is a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America.”
USAID managed over half of the U.S. foreign aid budget in 2023, distributing $72 billion. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has made cutting USAID a priority.
Legal and Political Challenges Ahead
Critics argue that Trump and Musk are overstepping their authority. USAID was created by an act of Congress, meaning it cannot be dismantled through executive action alone.
The fate of USAID now hangs in the balance, with mounting opposition to its potential shutdown.