USAID faced its biggest cuts yet on Sunday after the Trump administration announced it was firing thousands of workers and placing others on administrative leave.
At least 2,000 U.S.-based positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development were slashed in President Donald Trump and “first buddy” Elon Musk’s massive cull of federal agencies, according to the Associated Press, which, along with Axios, first obtained an email to staff that announced the changes were set to take effect just before midnight Sunday.
The note was later published on the USAID website.
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“As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally,” the notification said.
“Concurrently, USAID is beginning to implement a Reduction-in-Force that will affect approximately 1,600 USAID personnel with duty stations in the United States.”
It adds those that are impacted by the cuts should have received notice on Feb. 23 “with further instructions and information about their benefits and rights.” Those who were expected to continue in the roles were also told they would be notified.
According to the AP, Pete Marocco, a Trump appointee running USAID, has hinted that at least 600 jobs will remain, mostly to help organize the return of USAID staffers and their families abroad.
Musk confirmed he was in the process of shutting USAID down in a Spaces chat on X in early February. The administration was sued by unions representing workers shortly afterwards, but a federal judge cleared the way Friday and lifted a temporary restraining order.
Trump and Musk have berated the agency in the weeks since Trump took office, spilling false claims—including the bizarre lie that the agency was sending $50 million in condoms to Gaza.
