USAID Employees Placed On Forced Leave as Trump Guts Agency

Mass forced leave began for most employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), both in Washington and worldwide, as workers sought legal action to block President Trump from dismantling the agency and U.S.-funded aid programs across the globe, Ellen Knickmeyer reported for The Associated Press (AP).

The administration plans to reduce USAID’s workforce to fewer than 300 employees. I Photo: USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development Facebook

The administration plans to reduce USAID’s workforce to fewer than 300 employees—down from more than 8,000 direct hires and contractors, along with thousands of locally hired staff abroad—according to two current USAID employees and a former senior agency official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

The officials said the numbers were presented to the agency’s remaining senior leadership. Additionally, a Trump administration order prohibits USAID staff from communicating with anyone outside the agency.