The Trump administration plans to reduce the workforce at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to fewer than 300 employees, out of a global total of over 10,000.
Mass Layoffs & Restructuring Efforts
USAID, Washington’s primary humanitarian aid agency, has been a key target in a government reorganization program led by businessman Elon Musk, a close Trump ally. Since taking office on January 20, the Republican president has pushed for major structural changes.
Sources revealed that under the new plan, only 294 USAID employees would retain their positions, including a mere 12 staff members in the Africa bureau and just eight in the Asia bureau.
“This is outrageous,” said J. Brian Atwood, who served as USAID chief for over six years. He warned that the mass termination would cripple an agency responsible for saving millions of lives worldwide.
“A lot of people will not survive,” Atwood added, now a senior fellow at Brown University’s Watson Institute.
Controversy & Accusations
The U.S. Department of State declined to comment on the matter.
The decision follows Trump and Musk making false accusations that USAID employees were engaged in criminal activity. As a result, dozens of staff members have been placed on leave, hundreds of contractors laid off, and life-saving aid programs have been thrown into uncertainty.
On Tuesday, the administration ordered all USAID employees globally to go on leave and began recalling thousands of overseas personnel.
State Department Response & Exemptions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that officials were working to identify and exempt specific programs from the stop-work orders. However, these cuts have already jeopardized global efforts to combat disease, prevent famine, and alleviate poverty.
The drastic overhaul has sparked concerns about the future of U.S. humanitarian aid, with critics warning of devastating consequences for vulnerable populations worldwide.
