- USAID faces massive staff cuts, reducing 10,000 workers to fewer than 300.
- Trump’s administration justifies cuts, claiming USAID misuses taxpayer funds.
- Unions sue, arguing the move violates federal law and endangers global aid.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is facing drastic staff reductions as the Trump administration moves forward with major spending cuts.
The agency, which currently employs around 10,000 people worldwide, could see its workforce slashed to fewer than 300, with thousands of employees placed on administrative leave starting Friday night.
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An online notice confirmed that a plan is being prepared for return travel and the termination of non-essential contracts.
According to the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), only 294 employees have been classified as “essential,” a claim that has sparked backlash from USAID officials and former leaders.
The cuts, backed by cost-cutting advisor Elon Musk, have already frozen hundreds of aid programs across multiple countries.
The Trump administration argues that USAID has mismanaged taxpayer money and failed to align with “America First” policies.
Public opinion polls, such as a March 2023 AP-NORC survey, have shown that many Americans, particularly Republicans, believe the U.S. is overspending on foreign aid.
USAID is the largest single provider of humanitarian assistance worldwide, operating in over 60 countries.
Former USAID chief Brian Atwood called the planned reduction “outrageous,” warning that it could effectively dismantle an agency that has saved millions of lives.
In response, two major labor unions, the AFSA and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have filed a lawsuit against Trump, the State Department, USAID, the Treasury Department, and top officials.
The lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution by attempting to dismantle the agency without congressional approval. It demands the immediate restoration of USAID operations, the reinstatement of grants and contracts, and the lifting of staff evacuation orders.
The lawsuit also highlights the global impact of these cuts, stating that they have created a humanitarian crisis, cost thousands of American jobs, and jeopardized U.S. national security interests.
Despite the backlash, Senator Marco Rubio defended the administration’s stance, addressing about 200 USAID workers in Guatemala on Wednesday.
He assured them that the U.S. would continue providing foreign aid but insisted that future programs must align with national priorities.
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“The United States is not walking away from foreign aid,” Rubio said. “But it has to be programs that we can defend, explain, and justify.”
As the deadline approaches, thousands of USAID employees are bracing for uncertainty, while the legal battle over the agency’s future intensifies.
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