Administration cutting 1,600 USAID jobs in US
By: Jonathan Landay
and Timothy Gardner
Reuters
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's administration said on Sunday [02/23/2025] it was placing all personnel at the foreign assistance agency USAID, except leaders and critical staff, on paid administrative leave and eliminating 1,600 positions in the U.S.
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Billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has led an effort to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development, the main delivery mechanism for American foreign assistance and a critical tool of U.S. "soft power" for winning influence abroad.
..... "I regret to inform you that you are affected by a Reduction in Force action," said an email sent to one of the workers being fired, which was reviewed by Reuters. those who got the note will be let go from federal service effective April 24, [2025]
the email said.
..... USAID said on its website just before midnight ET on Sunday [02/23/2025] that all direct hires except essential workers will be put on leave and 1,600 USAID personal in the U.S. would be cut.
..... On Friday, [02/21/2025] a federal judge cleared the way for the Trump administration to put thousand of USAID workers on leave, a setback for government employees unions their are suing over what they have called an effort to dismantle the agency.
..... Two former senior USAID officials estimated that a majority of some 4,600 USAID personnel, career U.S. Civil Service and Foreign Service staffers would be placed on administrative leave.
..... "This administration and Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio are shortsighted in cutting into the expertise and unique crisis reposes capacity of the U.S.," said Marcla Wong, one of the former officials. "when disease outbreaks occur, populations displaced these USAID experts are on the ground and first deployed to help stabilize and provide aid."
..... Trump order a 90-day pause on foreign aid shortly after taking office on January 20, [2025] halting funding for everything form programs that fight starvation and deadly diseases to providing shelters for millions of displaced people across the globe.