The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has placed its employees on administrative leave and begun recalling staff from overseas assignments as part of a broader restructuring under the Trump administration.
In a statement published on its website, which reappeared on Tuesday, the agency announced that the leave will take effect just before midnight on February 7, 2025. The directive applies to all USAID direct-hire personnel, except those handling mission-critical functions, core leadership, and designated programs.
“Thank you for your service,” the statement read.
The move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s initiative, supported by billionaire Elon Musk, to downsize the U.S. government—a decision that has sparked backlash from Democrats and human rights advocates.
USAID, which funds health and emergency programs in approximately 120 countries, is regarded as a key instrument of U.S. soft power, especially in countering the influence of global rivals like China. Musk, who has significant business interests in China, has openly criticized the agency, calling it “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and vowing to dismantle it.
Musk has also alleged, without evidence, that USAID engages in covert intelligence operations and has funded controversial research, including bioweapon development. He stated that he personally cleared the decision with Trump.
The action against USAID follows long-standing conservative arguments that U.S. foreign aid is wasteful and neglects domestic priorities. The agency, which has a budget exceeding $40 billion, has historically provided assistance to countries such as Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Afghanistan.
As the world’s largest provider of development assistance, the U.S. government’s potential shift in aid policy could have significant geopolitical implications.
photo credit: AFP photo
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