USAID staff worldwide put on leave as part of Trump's purge

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 07:58

The Trump administration has signed off on suspending thousands of USAID employees across the globe as it battles the agency's operations.

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

All directly hired USAID employees will be put on leave and recalled from abroad, US President Donald Trump's administration announced on Friday, in a significant overhaul that would uproot thousands of personnel's lives.

"On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally," a statement on the agency's website read, which had been suspended since the weekend.

However, according to the statement, employees overlooking critical functions, key leadership roles, and specially designated programs were exempt from the relocation.

USAID employs over 10,000 people, with nearly two-thirds working abroad, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The agency operates in more than 60 country and regional missions.

For its overseas personnel, Washington was coordinating a plan with the State Department to facilitate their return to the United States within 30 days, covering travel expenses. The announcement also stated that USAID leadership would review exceptions on an individual basis, considering personal hardships or concerns related to mobility and safety.

USAID is the largest single donor globally, with the US distributing $72 billion in aid during fiscal year 2023. In 2024, it accounted for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations.

Musk's role in USAID shutdown

Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading US President Donald Trump's initiative to reduce the size of the federal government, provided an update on the effort Monday, stating that they are working to dismantle the US foreign aid agency, USAID.

Earlier in the day, Musk publicly claimed that President Donald Trump had agreed to shut down USAID. On X, Musk reiterated his position, calling USAID a "criminal organization" and a "nest of radical left-wing Marxists who hate America."

The move is part of a broader effort by Musk, who is leading Trump's government cost-cutting initiative, aimed at reducing federal spending and eliminating programs deemed unnecessary. During a discussion on X alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, Musk emphasized that dismantling USAID was a priority under Trump's agenda.

"It's beyond repair," Musk said, adding that Trump fully supports its shutdown.

USAID; a tool of political influence?

While the Trump administration has gone after USAID over wasteful spending of American taxpayer dollars, this does not come without historical precedent. The agency has repeatedly faced allegations of covert activities and political interference in several countries over the years as in Cuba, in the ZunZuneo Project, Bolivia, through support for opposition groups, Russia, for alleged economic reform through the Harvard Institute for International Development, Brazil, through influence on political reforms, and Peru, in a forced sterilization campaign.

The agency’s critics argue that it often oversteps its mandate, engaging in activities that serve political rather than humanitarian goals. They point to instances of alleged wasteful spending and covert operations as evidence of systemic issues within the agency.