USAID Cuts 2,000 Jobs: What This Means for Employees and the Future of U.S. Development Aid | CNN Politics

About 2,000 employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will lose their jobs this Sunday. Most of the remaining staff will also be placed on administrative leave, as announced in an email to workers.

The email stated that only a few key personnel would continue working. Those responsible for critical missions, core leadership roles, or special programs are exempt from this leave. The leave starts at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The email went on to announce a major reduction in workforce affecting around 2,000 employees based in the US.

Affected employees will get direct notifications on Sunday, with essential staff being informed by 5 p.m. ET.

This decision highlights a significant downsizing at USAID, an organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid globally.

Earlier reports noted that a federal judge lifted a restraining order that had temporarily blocked the government from placing employees on leave. This decision allowed the Trump administration’s ongoing cuts to continue into the weekend.

Some of those affected include employees from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, known for responding quickly to disasters around the world.