The administration of US President Donald Trump has declared that nearly all employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on leave globally, with approximately 1,600 positions being eliminated domestically.
An email from the Office of the Administrator informed USAID staff of this "reduction in force" initiative, as reported by the BBC.
This decision follows Trump's earlier attempts to dismiss a significant number of USAID employees, which were met with legal obstacles; a federal judge had previously prohibited the dissolution of the agency but indicated that the suspension would not be indefinite.
According to the Associated Press, a notice to USAID personnel specified that, effective February 23, 2025, all direct hire employees, except those in critical roles, would be placed on administrative leave.
While the notice exempted certain designated personnel, the exact number of those classified as critical remains 'unclear.'
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has been actively working to reduce the size of USAID, which plays a crucial role in US foreign influence and assistance.
Pete Marocco, the deputy administrator appointed by Trump, said that 600 US-based employees would remain to facilitate travel for USAID staff and their families abroad.