The Trump administration’s U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced mass layoffs, firing 2,000 U.S. employees and placing thousands of foreign service officers on paid leave. Exceptions would only be for those involved in “mission-critical programs.” This decision follows a recent court ruling that permitted the administration to enforce layoffs and compel overseas staff to return home, many of whom anticipate further job losses. Pete Marocco has been overseeing significant changes at USAID, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that certain humanitarian programs might continue, despite operational disruptions due to a malfunctioning payment system.
Appointees from the Trump administration overseeing the U.S. Agency for International Development informed employees on Sunday that they would be terminating 2,000 staff members and placing potentially thousands of foreign service officers and other direct hires on paid leave starting that night.
Exceptions to this paid leave would apply to those engaged in “mission-critical programs,” as well as “core leadership” and employees assisting “specially designated programs,” as stated in an email accessed by The New York Times.
According to the email, U.S.A.I.D. appointees cited a “reduction in force” as the reason for the dismissal of 2,000 employees based in the U.S. This mass termination is part of wider layoffs initiated by the Trump administration aimed at ceasing nearly all U.S. foreign aid through a comprehensive freeze.
These developments followed a judge’s ruling on Friday, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with plans to lay off or put paid leave on many agency personnel and shut down operations internationally, necessitating that overseas employees return to the United States. Some of these individuals anticipate being dismissed upon their return home.
Judge Carl J. Nichols of the Federal District Court in Washington was overseeing a lawsuit aimed at prohibiting Trump administration officials from executing layoffs at the aid agency, placing employees on paid leave, and forcing those overseas to return to the U.S. swiftly.
Since late January, Pete Marocco, a political appointee with a controversial reputation from the first Trump administration, has been in charge of dismantling the aid agency, working alongside Elon Musk, the billionaire tech advisor to President Trump who has disseminated unsettling conspiracy theories regarding U.S.A.I.D.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he would be the new acting administrator of the agency, appointing Mr. Marocco as his deputy.
The Sunday email indicated that employees opting for the “voluntary” return from overseas would have their travel expenses covered by the agency.
Last week, agency appointees terminated around 400 employees who were contractors involved in urgent humanitarian assistance. This action reinforced a perception among many employees that Mr. Rubio does not genuinely support such initiatives.
Toward the end of the previous month, Mr. Rubio assured that “lifesaving humanitarian assistance” programs could persist. However, nearly all programs have been unable to function due to the agency’s non-operational payment system, preventing partner organizations from accessing funds.
Mr. Rubio has indicated that some foreign aid will continue after a 90-day review period, yet neither he nor Mr. Marocco, the official overseeing foreign aid at the State Department, have publicly clarified the review process, if one exists.