The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to lay off approximately 2,000 employees and place most of its remaining staff on administrative leave.
This decision, communicated to employees via email, marks a significant reduction in the agency’s workforce as part of broader efforts under the Trump administration to restructure federal agencies.
Politics - Fact-check: 8 ways elon musk has misled americans about government spending.
Layoffs and Administrative Leave
According to an email sent to USAID employees, all direct hire personnel, except for those in mission-critical roles or core leadership, will be placed on administrative leave beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday.
The email further confirmed that USAID is implementing a Reduction-in-Force (RIF), which will affect 2,000 employees working in the United States.
Employees impacted by the layoffs will be notified on Sunday, and those designated as essential personnel will be informed by 5 p.m. ET.
Reactions from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), one of the unions representing USAID employees, voiced strong opposition to the decision.
AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi expressed disappointment in the “hurried and callous” actions of the administration, which has left public servants in a state of uncertainty.
Yazdgerdi highlighted the negative personal and professional consequences of the decision, noting the harmful rhetoric directed at affected employees. AFSA had previously been involved in a lawsuit attempting to block such moves.
Ongoing Decimation of USAID
This move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to reduce the size and scope of USAID. Following a federal judge's ruling on Friday dissolving a temporary restraining order, the agency continued to implement the layoffs over the weekend.
Affected personnel include those in the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, which is responsible for responding to global disasters.
Finally
USAID’s decision to lay off thousands of employees and place remaining staff on leave reflects ongoing efforts to downsize the agency, which provides vital humanitarian aid worldwide.
Critics argue that these actions harm both the agency’s workforce and its ability to carry out its global missions effectively.
Thanks.
Written By HowNHowTo.com