The Trump administration is effectively ending a six-decade mission of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) by pulling almost all its workers off the field worldwide.
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday a drastic move to dismantle the US Agency for International Development ( USAID ), pulling almost all its workers off the field worldwide. This decision effectively ends a six-decade mission dedicated to promoting American security by combating hunger, funding education, and tackling global epidemics.
The administration notified USAID workers through emails and an online notice, marking the latest step in a systematic dismantling of the agency spearheaded by returning political appointees from President Donald Trump's first term and billionaire Elon Musk's government-efficiency teams. These teams have long criticized much of the agency's spending on overseas programs, deeming it wasteful.The order, taking effect just before midnight on Friday, grants 30 days for direct-hire USAID employees overseas to return home unless deemed essential. Contractors not classified as essential will also be terminated. This move had been circulating as a rumor for several days and represents the most extreme measure among proposals to consolidate the agency into the State Department. Other options explored included closing smaller USAID missions and partially shutting down larger ones.Thousands of USAID employees had already been laid off and programs worldwide halted after Trump imposed a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance. Despite objections from Democratic lawmakers, USAID has been a particular target for the new administration and Musk's budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, aiming to reduce the size of the federal government. They have implemented a spending stop that has paralyzed US-funded aid and development work globally, gutted the agency's senior leadership and workforce through furloughs and firings, and even closed the Washington headquarters to staffers on Monday. There were even reports of agency computer servers being removed.Musk boasted on X, formerly Twitter, 'Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.' The mass removal of thousands of staffers both overseas and in Washington threatens to derail billions of dollars worth of projects in over 120 countries. This includes security assistance to partners like Ukraine, as well as development work in areas such as clean water, job training, and education, including for schoolgirls under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.The US, by far the world's largest humanitarian donor, spends less than 1 percent of its budget on foreign assistance, a smaller proportion than some other nations. Health programs, renowned for their role in eradicating polio and smallpox epidemics and a highly acclaimed HIV/AIDS program credited with saving over 20 million lives in Africa, have already been halted. Monitoring and deployment of rapid-response teams for contagious diseases, such as the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, have also ceased. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of food and medications delivered by US companies are currently stuck in ports due to the administration's sudden shutdown of the agency.Democratic lawmakers and others argue that USAID is enshrined in legislation as an independent agency and cannot be shut down without congressional approval. Supporters of USAID from both sides of the political aisle emphasize its crucial role in countering the influence of Russia, China, and other adversaries and rivals abroad, as well as in strengthening alliances and partnerships.The decision to withdraw direct-hire staff and their families before their planned departures will likely cost the government tens of millions of dollars in travel and relocation expenses. Staff being placed on leave include both foreign and civil service officers who enjoy legal protection against arbitrary dismissal and being placed on leave without justification.The American Foreign Service Association, the union representing US diplomats, has issued a notice denouncing the decision and stating it is preparing legal action to challenge or halt it. However, locally employed USAID staff have limited recourse and were excluded from the federal government's voluntary buyout offer.USAID staffers and their families have been forced to make agonizing decisions amidst the looming layoffs, including whether to remove their children from school mid-year. Some have even given away pet cats and dogs, fearing the Trump administration will not grant them sufficient time to complete the paperwork needed to bring their animals with them.Tuesday's notice stated that it will consider individual cases for those requiring more time. However, with the majority of the agency's staff soon off the job, it remains unclear who will process these requests or other necessary paperwork for the mass removal of thousands of overseas staffers.Musk's teams had taken USAID's website offline over the weekend, and it returned online Tuesday night, with the notice of recall or termination for global staffers as its sole posting. The announcement coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's five-nation tour of Central America. He met with embassy and USAID staff at two of the region's largest USAID missions: El Salvador and Guatemala on Monday and Tuesday
USAID Trump Administration Foreign Assistance Elon Musk Government Efficiency International Development Global Security
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump administration memo tells USAID to put 'America First' in reviewing foreign aidLatest Philippine news from GMA News and 24 Oras. News, weather updates and livestreaming on Philippine politics, regions, showbiz, lifestyle, science and tech.
Read more »
Trump administration targets dozens of senior USAID staff after aid freezeThe Trump administration's actions threaten billions of dollars of life-saving aid from the world's largest single donor
Read more »
Trump Administration Removes USAID Security Officials After Musk's Group Gains Access to Restricted AreasThe Trump administration removed two top security officials at USAID after they tried to prevent representatives from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing restricted areas. This incident adds to the growing number of USAID staff being removed from their positions, as the administration seeks to abolish the agency's independence and potentially bring it under the State Department's control. DOGE personnel were reportedly allowed access to secure spaces, including classified files and personal information. The removals and changes have sparked concerns from Congressional Democrats who believe they violate US laws and are sending shockwaves through the global aid community.
Read more »
Trump Administration Places USAID Security Chiefs on Leave After Musk's Team Seeks Classified InformationThe Trump administration has placed two top security chiefs at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave after they refused to turn over classified material to Elon Musk's government-inspection teams. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eventually gained access to the aid agency's classified information, which includes intelligence reports. The USAID security officials believed they were legally obligated to deny access due to DOGE's lack of sufficient security clearance. This incident follows a similar operation by DOGE at the Treasury Department, where they accessed sensitive information, leading to the resignation of a senior Treasury official. The Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have imposed an unprecedented freeze on foreign assistance, effectively shutting down much of USAID's operations worldwide.
Read more »
Trump Administration Orders Leave for All USAID Direct Hire EmployeesThe Trump administration announced a sweeping overhaul of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), placing all directly hired employees on administrative leave and recalling thousands working overseas. The move comes amid President Trump's efforts to merge USAID with the State Department and effectively dismantle it as an independent entity. The announcement has sparked concern about the disruption to vital humanitarian aid programs worldwide.
Read more »
Trump administration pulling almost all USAID workers off the job worldwideWASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday that it is pulling almost all U.S. Agency for International Development workers off the job and out of the field worldwide, moving to all but end a six-decade mission to shore up American security by fighting starvation, funding education and working to end epidemics.
Read more »