Thousands of employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on leave starting Friday night, according to a statement released by the agency.
The directive, which affects the vast majority of USAID’s workforce, is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to curb government spending and realign foreign aid with its policy priorities.
USAID has clarified that the order applies to all “direct-hire personnel,” with exceptions granted only for those involved in "mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs."
However, the agency has not specified which roles fall under these exceptions. Employees are expected to receive individual notifications regarding their status by Thursday afternoon.The move will have widespread implications, as USAID employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide, two-thirds of whom are stationed in foreign countries, many in conflict zones.
The Congressional Research Service reports that the agency’s annual budget of around $40 billion accounts for roughly 0.6% of federal spending.
The Trump administration has long criticized USAID for what it describes as excessive and mismanaged spending.
Agency staff, with backing from Democratic lawmakers, have pushed back against the cuts, arguing that they could endanger lives and undermine national security by disrupting critical humanitarian efforts.
President Trump’s previous decision to freeze foreign assistance has already disrupted international aid programs in multiple countries, with Haiti being one of the most affected.
The United Nations confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. had suspended $13.3 million in aid earmarked for Haiti. However, on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department granted a waiver allowing $40.7 million in assistance to continue flowing to Haiti’s national police and the UN-backed international security support mission.
A major logistical challenge remains: how to facilitate the withdrawal of USAID employees working in active conflict zones. The agency has stated that it will coordinate with the U.S. Department of State to arrange and fund return travel for personnel stationed overseas within 30 days.
It remains unclear how this process will unfold, particularly in regions with ongoing security concerns.
These cuts are the latest in a series of cost-reduction measures implemented since Trump returned to office last month. Many of these measures have been coordinated through Elon Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, a controversial new initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations.
As USAID staff brace for these sweeping changes, the long-term impact of these cuts on global humanitarian efforts remains to be seen.
While the Trump administration asserts that the agency’s budget should be more closely aligned with national interests, critics warn that these reductions could have dire consequences for international stability and U.S. foreign relations.For now, affected employees wait for further instructions, with USAID concluding its announcement with a brief yet solemn message: “Thank you for your service.”
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