Continuing the crackdown on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Trump administration has announced that its entire workforce has been put on administrative leave. A notification published on USAID website stated that on Friday, 7 February at 11.59 pm (EST), all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally. The order also states that overseas employees of the organisation will have to return to the USA.
Exceptions are made for those involved in mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specific programs. USAID will arrange and fund return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for affected staff. The notification added that the Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons.
Moreover, all contractual staff not being deemed essential are being terminated.
Essential personnel who are expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday.
This action aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to reduce federal spending on international aid. Elon Musk, appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, has been instrumental in this effort, advocating for the dissolution of USAID, calling it a criminal organisation. Musk stated that after detailed discussions, President Trump agreed that the agency should be shut down.
The restructuring plan of the Trump administration includes merging parts of USAID into the State Department, effectively ending its independence. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has started working as acting administrator of USAID, effectively confirming the takeover of the agency by the state department.
Dozens of officials of USAID have already been placed for various reasons, including for refusal to provide information to DOGE officials. Similarly, reportedly thousands of contractors have been laid off. Earlier this week the employees were asked not to come to its headquarters in Washington DC.
The USAID website was also taken offline, and now only the notification of administrative leave is available on it. Its social media handles have been deactivated.
