WASHINGTON — The Trump administration mentioned Sunday that it was inserting all however a fraction of staffers on the U.S. Agency for International Development on go away worldwide and eliminating 2,000 U.S.-based employees positions.
The transfer was the newest and one of many largest steps but towards what President Donald Trump and cost-cutting ally Elon Musk say is their objective of gutting the six-decade-old assist and improvement company in a broader marketing campaign to slash the scale of the federal authorities.
The transfer comes after a federal choose on Friday allowed the administration to maneuver ahead with its plan to tug hundreds of USAID staffers off the job in the US and world wide. U.S. District Choose Carl Nichols rejected pleas in a lawsuit from workers to maintain quickly blocking the federal government’s plan.
“As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct rent personnel, except designated personnel liable for mission-critical capabilities, core management and/or specifically designated packages, shall be positioned on administrative go away globally,” in accordance with the notices despatched to USAID staff that have been considered by The Related Press.
On the identical time, the company mentioned it was starting a discount in drive that might remove 2,000 U.S.-based staffers. Meaning lots of the Washington-based staffers who’re being positioned on go away would quickly have their positions eradicated.
The Trump appointee working USAID, deputy administrator Pete Marocco, has indicated he plans to maintain about 600 largely U.S.-based staffers on the job within the meantime, partly to rearrange journey for USAID staffers and households overseas.
USAID and the State Division didn’t instantly reply to messages looking for remark.
The transfer escalates a monthlong push to dismantle the company, which has included closing its headquarters in Washington and shutting down hundreds of assist and improvement packages worldwide following an effort to freeze all overseas help. Trump and Musk contend that USAID’s work is wasteful and furthers a liberal agenda.
Lawsuits by authorities staff’ unions, USAID contractors and others say the administration lacks the constitutional authority to remove an unbiased company or congressionally funded packages with out lawmakers’ approval.
The Trump administration efforts upend a long time of U.S. coverage that assist and improvement work abroad serves nationwide safety by stabilizing areas and economies and constructing alliances.
The notices of firings and leaves come on high of lots of of USAID contractors receiving no-name kind letters of termination up to now week, 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 them, may make it tough for the dismissed staff to get unemployment advantages, staff famous.
A distinct choose in a second lawsuit tied to USAID has quickly blocked the overseas funding freeze and mentioned this previous week that the administration had stored withholding the help regardless of his court docket order and should no less than quickly restore the funding to packages worldwide.
