The Trump administration has announced a major downsizing of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), placing most of its personnel on paid administrative leave and cutting 1,600 positions in the United States. This move is part of a broader effort led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to restructure the agency, which plays a key role in delivering American foreign assistance. Affected employees were notified via email that they would be officially removed from federal service by April 24.
The White House has yet to comment on the decision, which follows a federal judge’s ruling on Friday allowing the administration to place thousands of USAID workers on leave. Critics, including former senior officials, argue that the cuts will significantly weaken the U.S.’s ability to respond to global crises such as disease outbreaks and displacement emergencies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the move as a necessary step in re-evaluating foreign aid priorities.
President Trump had already implemented a 90-day freeze on foreign aid shortly after taking office, affecting programs aimed at fighting starvation, disease, and global displacement. While some exceptions have been granted—totaling $5.3 billion, mainly for security and counter-narcotics efforts—USAID programs have received less than $100 million in exemptions. This marks a dramatic reduction from the roughly $40 billion in aid the agency previously managed annually.
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