In a shocking move that has sent ripples through the global aid community, the Trump administration has ordered U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) direct-hire staffers worldwide to be placed on leave, except for those deemed essential. This unprecedented decision threatens to unravel the agency’s six-decade mission to provide foreign aid and development support across the globe.
A notice posted online on Tuesday gives staff 30 days to return to the U.S. The drastic action follows months of speculation regarding the consolidation of USAID into the State Department, with other proposals on the table including the closure of smaller missions and downsizing larger ones.
The decision has already led to widespread layoffs, the termination of U.S.-funded programs, and a freeze on foreign assistance, disrupting critical support in countries worldwide. President Trump’s imposition of a sweeping freeze on foreign aid and the involvement of Elon Musk’s budget-cutting Department of Government Efficiency has severely impacted the agency, prompting outrage from Democratic lawmakers and humanitarian groups alike.
Many USAID staffers, including both foreign and civil service officers, have been placed on leave without cause, a move that violates their legal protections. The American Foreign Service Association, representing U.S. diplomats, has threatened legal action in response. Meanwhile, locally employed USAID staff have little recourse and were excluded from voluntary buyout offers.
The shutdown has placed staff members in a heartbreaking position, with many packing up their lives abroad, uprooting families, and making last-minute decisions about their futures. With a significant loss of funding, it’s expected that the costs of relocating staff could run into the tens of millions of dollars.
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on a tour of Central America, USAID missions in countries like El Salvador and Guatemala are feeling the impact of the administration’s drastic actions. Despite protests from lawmakers, the move is a stark reminder of the growing influence of political agendas on humanitarian efforts worldwide.
