A flag outdoors of the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) headquarters is seen on February 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Photos
The Trump administration stated Sunday that it’s eliminating 2,000 positions on the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement and inserting all however a fraction of different staffers worldwide on go away.
It comes after a federal choose on Friday allowed the administration to maneuver ahead with pulling hundreds of USAID staffers off the job in the US and world wide. U.S. District Choose Carl Nichols rejected pleas that got here in a lawsuit from workers to maintain briefly blocking the federal government’s plan.
“As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct rent personnel, apart from designated personnel answerable for mission-critical capabilities, core management and/or specifically designated packages, will likely be positioned on administrative go away globally,” in accordance with the notices despatched to USAID employees and considered by The Related Press.
On the similar time, the company stated it’s chopping the U.S.-based workforce by about 2,000 workers.
The transfer escalates a monthlong administration assault on the company that has closed its headquarters in Washington and shut down hundreds of U.S. support and growth packages worldwide following an effort to freeze overseas help. President Donald Trump and his chief cost-cutter, Elon Musk, contend the help and growth work is wasteful and furthers a liberal agenda.
Citing an enormous concern for employees stationed abroad who’ve reported being lower off from authorities communications, the notices say that “USAID is dedicated to conserving its abroad personnel protected. Till they return dwelling, personnel will retain entry to Company programs and to diplomatic and different sources.”
The administration stated workers placed on go away abroad are anticipated to obtain “voluntary Company-funded return journey” and different advantages.
Nichols, who was nominated by Trump, stated he had been “very involved” about employees in high-risk areas left abroad with out entry to emergency communications. However he stated he has since been reassured by the administration that employees would nonetheless have entry to two-way radios that permit 24–7 communications in emergencies, in addition to a cellphone app with a “panic button.”
The choose stated the federal government’s statements persuaded him “that the danger posed to USAID workers who’re positioned on administrative go away whereas stationed overseas — if there’s any — is way extra minimal than it initially appeared.”
The notices of firings and leaves come on prime of tons of of USAID contractors receiving no-name type letters of termination over the weekend, in accordance with copies that AP considered.
The blanket nature of the notification letters to USAID contractors, excluding the names or positions of these receiving it, may make it tough for the dismissed employees to get unemployment advantages, employees famous.
A unique choose in a second lawsuit tied to the dismantling of USAID has briefly blocked the freeze on overseas help and stated this previous week that the administration had saved withholding the help regardless of his courtroom order and should not less than briefly restore the funding to packages worldwide.
