The Trump administration has announced the elimination of 2,000 positions to the American Agency for International Development (USAID) and has placed almost all its staff abroad on administrative leave.
The decision follows a decision by the American district judge Carl Nichols, who rejected legal action contesting the cuts and allowed the administration to proceed by eliminating thousands of USAID employees in the United States and abroad.
All the USAID direct rental staff, with the exception of those responsible for critical functions and key leadership roles, will be on leave. The opinions sent to the USAID staff, who were consulted by the Associated Press, confirmed the global scope of the directive. In addition, the agency will reduce around 2,000 American jobs, considerably reducing its workforce.
An important blow for USAID operations
This decision intensifies the continuous effort of the administration to reduce and restructure USAID, a federal agency that plays a key role in the supply of international development aid. The cuts occur only a few weeks after President Trump signed a decree targeting the funding of the USAID. In January, the USAID Inspector General Paul Martin was rejected after publishing a report that criticized the proposed discounts to the agency’s programs.
The dismantling of the USAID has already led to the closure of the headquarters of the Washington agency and to the suspension of several development programs worldwide. Critics, including President Trump and eminent personalities like Elon Musk, argue that agency’s operations are waste and promote a liberal political program.
Legal and critical challenges
The actions of the administration aroused legal challenges, the unions taking a large action on behalf of the USAID employees. The prosecution claims that the cuts have blocked the medical evacuations necessary for staff members, left certain entrepreneurs without emergency communications and did not provide adequate support to employees blocked in countries like the Congo in the midst of violence policy. The trial also maintains that the dismantling of an agency like USAID requires the approval of the congress.
The recent decision of judge Nichols paved the way for the administration to continue its plan, despite these ongoing challenges. However, the legal representatives of the staff of the USAID argue that actions are unconstitutional and harmful to foreign relations and American humanitarian efforts.
A drastic reduction in the workforce
According to current and former USAID officials, the administration plan will leave less than 300 employees working within the agency, against the 8,000 current direct hires and entrepreneurs. The remaining employees will focus on a limited number of rescue programs that the administration has chosen to continue. The remaining staff, as well as locally hired international employees, will be responsible for managing these critical programs.
In an effort to accelerate the transition, the administration gave almost all the staff abroad 30 days to return to the United States, with travel and move costs covered by the government. Employees who choose to stay abroad beyond this period, unless a derogation from specific difficulties will have to cover their own expenses.
This significant reduction in USAID has raised concerns about the future of American efforts for foreign aid and development, criticisms warning that these cuts will have lasting impacts on global humanitarian programs.
