The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would place all directly hired employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) worldwide on administrative leave, while also recalling thousands of personnel stationed abroad.
According to a notice on the USAID website, which has been down since the weekend, all USAID direct-hire personnel will be placed on leave effective Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EST). However, certain staff involved in critical functions, core leadership, and specific programs will be exempt from this action.
USAID’s workforce exceeds 10,000, with approximately two-thirds of staff working overseas, as per the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The agency operates more than 60 country and regional missions globally.
For staff stationed abroad, Washington is preparing a plan in coordination with the State Department, offering to cover the return travel costs for personnel to the U.S. within 30 days. The announcement also stated that exceptions would be considered on a case-by-case basis, especially for personal hardships or safety concerns.
The unexpected overhaul is set to disrupt the lives of thousands of staff and their families, coinciding with President Trump’s initiative to merge USAID with the State Department, effectively dismantling USAID’s independence as a separate entity. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, now acting head of USAID, labeled the agency as “completely unresponsive” and accused staff of being “unwilling to answer simple questions” about programs. Rubio also informed Congress about the restructuring, suggesting some parts of USAID may be absorbed by the State Department while others could be eliminated. However, since Congress created USAID as an independent body within the executive branch, the president cannot eliminate it without congressional approval, according to a recent CRS report.
This announcement comes after the Trump administration froze most U.S. foreign aid on January 20, 2025, in an effort to align aid with the “America First” policy. The freeze led to the suspension of hundreds of USAID programs providing essential global aid. Billionaire Elon Musk, who has criticized USAID, was tasked with scaling down the agency.
On Tuesday evening, the announcement followed a directive from Peter Marocco, a Trump appointee overseeing the agency’s operations, instructing all USAID staff and their families to return. The agency has faced significant turmoil, with many headquarters staff placed on leave and internal contractors laid off. USAID’s partners are experiencing financial difficulties due to stop-work orders from the State Department. Emergency life-saving assistance has been exempted from the freeze.
In the fiscal year 2023, the U.S. allocated $72 billion in foreign aid, addressing issues such as women’s health, clean water, HIV/AIDS treatments, energy security, and anti-corruption efforts. This aid constitutes less than 1% of the U.S. total budget but plays a crucial role in advancing diplomacy, building global alliances, and countering the influence of China and Russia in developing nations.
The announcement concluded by stating that those expected to continue working will be notified by USAID leadership by Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM (EST).
