The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is making big changes. Staff from all over the world will be on administrative leave starting this Friday. They must return to the United States unless they are part of essential functions or leadership roles. This directive was issued on Tuesday night.
By 11:59 p.m. ET Friday, all direct hire employees will be placed on administrative leave. This excludes those critical to the agency’s core functions or special programs. USAID announced this on their website, which has recently come back online after some downtime.
The agency is also planning how to bring staff back to the U.S. for a cost that USAID will cover within the next 30 days. They also mentioned that non-essential contracts would be terminated.
Direct hires are U.S. government officials, unlike contractors, who form a significant part of the USAID workforce. Many contractors have already lost their jobs. Personnel deemed essential will know their status by Thursday afternoon.
This news comes as the Trump administration appears to be scaling back USAID and has put a freeze on most foreign aid. Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took over as the acting administrator of USAID, which effectively shifts control to the State Department.
In recent days, many senior USAID officials have been placed on leave, and thousands of contractors have been laid off. Employees were told to stay away from the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Staff received emails notifying them of their leave. The acting deputy administrator, Peter Marocco, informed them that they would remain on paid leave until further notice.
Marocco’s letter also instructed employees not to access USAID systems or buildings during their leave without permission. This sudden shift has left employees feeling disoriented and anxious.
When asked by a reporter about the agency’s future, President Trump seemed to agree that he planned to wind down operations. He mentioned concerns about potential fraud within USAID without presenting any evidence.
Many staff members feel in the dark. An employee expressed their frustrations about sudden changes and uncertainty, mentioning that those overseas may have their families uprooted.
Additionally, thousands of contractors and civil servants lost access to emails and systems overnight, leading to confusion among the staff, who find it hard to get answers.
USAID’s headquarters and nearby offices in Virginia will be closed for the rest of the week. Employees are expected to work from home, with exceptions only for critical maintenance tasks.
This situation comes in the wake of a broad executive order from Trump, pausing foreign aid for 90 days. USAID was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to help fight global poverty and respond to disasters, providing billions annually.
The Trump administration’s criticisms, particularly from Elon Musk, suggest a desire to fundamentally change or diminish USAID’s role. This has raised concerns among Democrats about the legality of these actions and their impact on global aid efforts.
This article will be updated as new information becomes available.
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