Thousands of employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on leave from Friday night, as part of a string of cuts President Donald Trump has made to government-funded programs since returning to office last month.
USAID, which provides humanitarian aid to over 100 countries, employs 10,000 people worldwide and two-thirds of those people work overseas. The agency has been criticized for its impact on humanitarian programs around the world.
USAID is working with the State Department to arrange and pay for return travel for its many personnel posted outside the US within the month. Employees who are part of the exceptions will be informed by 15:00 EDT (20:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The Agency’s activities range from providing prosthetic limbs to soldiers injured in Ukraine, clearing landmines, and containing the spread of Ebola in Africa. The Trump administration has prioritised slashing government funding, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio becoming the acting Head of USAID.
Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO, has said USAID should be shut down as many have warned that closing USAID’s doors would have devastating effects on vulnerable populations across the world.
USAID, founded in 1961, has bases in 60 countries and works in dozens of others. It managed more than $40b (£32.25b) in fiscal year 2023.
