The Trump administration said on Sunday that it is sending all the employees of the US International Development Agency on leave and ending the posts of the US -based 2,000 employees.
The move is the latest and biggest step taken to eliminate six decades old assistance and development agency as part of President Donald Trump and his colleague Alan Musk of cost cuts.
The move has been taken by a federal judge on Friday after the administration was allowed to proceed on their plan to remove thousands of USAID employees worldwide and around the world. US District Judge Carl Nichols dismissed the case filed by employees to temporarily block the government’s plan.
According to the notice sent to USAID personnel viewed by Associated Press, “From EST at 11:59 pm on Sunday, February 23, 2025, mission-mating works, main leadership and/or specially nominated personnel responsible for designated programs Except for, all USAID direct appointment personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally. “
Also, the agency said it was starting to cut the number of employees, which would eliminate 2,000 employees in the US. This means that many employees living in Washington who are being sent on leave will soon end their posts.
Deputy Administrator PT Marco, appointed by Trump, who operates USAID, has indicated that in the meantime they plan to hire around 600 employees, most of which live in the US, so that USAIDs live abroad for employees and their families Arrangements can be made.
The USAID and the Department of External Affairs did not immediately respond to the messages seeking comments.
This step further takes forward the effort to end the agency, which includes closing its headquarters in Washington and closing thousands of support and development programs worldwide after attempts to stop all foreign aids. . Trump and Musk argue that the work of USAID is useless and the liberal leads the agenda.
The cases filed by government employee unions, USAID contractors and others have said that the administration does not have the constitutional right to abolish the funding by any independent agency or Congress without the approval of MPs.
The efforts of the Trump administration have reversed the decades -old policy of the US according to which assistance and development work in abroad work for national security by stabilizing areas and economies and coalitions.
According to copies seen by AP, these notices of dismissal and holiday have come in addition to receiving dismissal letters without names to hundreds of USAID contractors last week.
Workers said that the nature of notification letters sent to USAID contractors is very common, which does not mention the names or positions of those who receive them, which can make it difficult for the dismissed workers to get unemployment benefits.
In another case related to USAID, another judge has temporarily stopped the ban on foreign funding and last week said that the administration has stopped assistance despite their court order, and at least temporarily the world F funding should be restored for programs across.
