- USAID was established in 1961 by US President John F Kennedy.
- The charity arm has over 10,000 global employees and spends $40 million in humanitarian support.
- Trump, Musk allege USAID is run by “radical left lunatics” getting away with “tremendous fraud.”
A notice placed on the USAID website that announces to all its global staff, over 10 000 personnel, the commencement of an administrative leave this Friday.USAID, a giant charity arm of the US government is being dismantled by U.S. President Donald Trump. This decision is set to sent shockwaves across the world as it comes after almost a century of USAID operations. Established in 1961 by President John F Kennedy, USAID has over the years assumed a huge role in humanitarian affairs across Africa, but under Trump, the organization is now unceremoniously been drugged through the dirt.
Its over 10,000 employees will either be laid off or reassigned and its annual budget that averages $40 billion (the lion’s share of a total of $68 billion in US foreign aid spending), will now go to other uses.
The agency is one of the largest official aid agencies in the world and accounts for more than half of all U.S. foreign assistance which according to the usapending.gov is the highest in the world in absolute dollar terms. Now USAID is been shut down and that means so are its missions which are spread across more than 100 countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
“Nearly all of USAID’s global workforce will be placed on administrative leave starting Friday, according to a notice on the aid agency’s website…President Donald Trump and several members of his administration have spoken of plans to review and potentially restructure or abolish parts of USAID,” Forbes reported Wednesday morning.
The Forbes report referred to a notice placed on the USAID website that announces to all its global staff, over 10,000 personnel, the commencement of an administrative leave this Friday.
“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).”
With that notice, more than 10000 staff will be out of jobs around the world and will be returned to the U.S. A Congressional report that was published in January, specifies that USAID’s direct hire workforce “totals more than 10,000, with approximately two-thirds serving overseas.”
“For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential.”
The notice does provide for special considerations in its ‘termination’ of employment and subsequent return to the U.S. of affected staff; “For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.”
After that special consideration, the agency goes ahead and thanks the soon to be unemployed staff for their service. “Thank you for your service,” the notice sums up.
Also Read: Trump, Musk Threaten to Halt Aid to South Africa
USAID layoffs, reassignments and integrations
Since the start of the week, USAID staff were told to work from home and not to go to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. After that, hundreds of employees lost access to the USAID computer system overnight.
As of Tuesday 3rd, the New York Times reported that the charity’s employees at an annex office in Washington, D.C. were seen clearing out their desks.
In its coverage of the unfolding demise, Reuters cites insider information that confirms; “Contractors whose work is not deemed as essential will be laid off.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote; “USAID may move, reorganize, and integrate certain missions, bureaus, and offices into the Department of State, and the remainder of the agency may be abolished consistent with applicable law.”
He is quoted pointing out agency activities that are considered “conflicting” and “overlapping” alongside systems that “often result in the discord of the foreign policy and foreign relations of the United States.”
He described the organization as “a completely unresponsive agency,” but nonetheless, he did assert that a lot of functions of the organisation “are going to continue,” only this time, “…they’re going to be part of the American foreign policy, and must be aligned with the American foreign policy.”
As the dust settles, it is Pete Marco, the USAID Director of Foreign Assistance, that has been appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the agency.
The irony of Marco’s appointment is that; “Marco served at USAID during the first Trump administration and was put on leave three months into his position after officials filed a complaint about him to the agency’s watchdog and claimed he disrupted USAID’s work, gave vague directives and marginalized employees,” Reuters writes.
So what is to become of the renowned and beloved global life supporting USAID? CBS News quotes anonymous U.S. officials that revealed that it will be merged with the State Department.
Sen. Joni Ernst tones down the rhetoric a little bit but maintains the overall view of Musk and Trump; “if there are truly good pro-American programs under USAID’s authority, they should be moved under the State Department and make sure we have proper oversight.”
What is for sure, the sources ascertain, “…there will be significant cuts in the workforce, but it will remain a humanitarian aid entity.”
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), calls the the entity ‘a radical-left political psy op’ and that is ‘incredibly politically partisan.’ He added that it is not just ‘an apple with a worm in it,’ it is ‘a bowl of worms’ that is ‘beyond repair’ and the only solution is “…you’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing.”
Sharing similar sentiments, Trump alleged to reporters at the White House that the USAID is run by “radical left lunatics” and is getting away with “tremendous fraud.” That been said, Musk wrapped up any guess works as to the fate of the USAID clarifying that he and president Trump are in agreement; ‘we’re shutting it down.’
USAID defenders: From the American people
USAID has been saving lives, now the agency needs saving. Speaking in defense of USAID, democratic lawmakers say what Musk and Trump are doing is “illegal, and unconstitutional,” and that “…it is a move that would hurt poor people abroad, harm national security and reduce US influence on the global stage.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says the shutting down of USAID is “…plain illegal,” and amounts to “…a gift to our adversaries…the likes of China and Russia could be emboldened by weakened American influence on the world stage,” he warned.
Sen. Brian Schatz, told reporters that he plans to place a ‘blanket hold’ on Trump’s State Department nominees until USAID is left alone. Choosing anonymity, a former official said the agency represents; “the best and brightest that the American government has to offer.” Closure of USAID has had effect across the global from Afghanistan to Africa, where American aid has been funding life-saving services for women and children.
In Afghanistan, all medical centres funded by USAID have closed while in Syria, a “stop work” message was received by hundreds of staff at the Al-Hol displacement camp which holds more than 40,000 people, mostly women and children.
“Elon Musk makes billions of dollars based off of his business with China, and China is cheering at this action today,” claimed Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.